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Wahkiakum County, Washington

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
36th of 39highest risk in Washington
$6Mexpected losses a year
30federal declarations
1 in 19homes with flood insurance
Photo: Martin Bravenboer, CC BY 2.0

Wahkiakum County, Washington has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 81% of US counties. It ranks 36th of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are tsunamis, inland flooding and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $6.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,360 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (28 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 19 homes here carry federal flood insurance (110 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.8 million on 93 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Wahkiakum County

$2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 8 years.
  • Learn the tsunami evacuation route signs.
  • If you feel a strong quake near the coast, move to high ground right away.
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$977,145 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 55 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
TsunamiLow58.5
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low17.6
$2M
EarthquakeLow75.2
$977K
Coastal floodingModerate70.4
$931K
Heat waveLow39.9
$194K
Cold waveVery Low6.5
$29K
Strong windVery Low3.4
$16K
LandslideLow80.6
$14K
TornadoVery Low3.9
$11K
Ice stormVery Low16.5
$9K
WildfireVery Low12.2
$3K
LightningVery Low0.8
$2K
Winter weatherVery Low2.7
$1K
HailVery Low1.3
$1K
Volcanic activityVery Low69.7
$81
AvalancheVery Low8.3
$5

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively high and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Wahkiakum County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood14
Severe Storm13
Volcanic Eruption1
Earthquake1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Apr 7, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesEmergency
Apr 28, 2024Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 12, 2023Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 29, 2022Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 2021Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 23, 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 2, 2016Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, and A TMajor disaster
Jan 15, 2016Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 30
Mar 5, 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 25, 2011Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 2, 2009Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 8, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2007Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 17, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Tidal Surge, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Mar 1, 2001EarthquakeMajor disaster
Feb 9, 1996High Winds, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 3, 1996Severe Storms, High Wind, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1993Severe Storms & High WindMajor disaster
Nov 26, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 18, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 15, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 1980Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. HelensMajor disaster
Dec 10, 1977Severe Storms,Mudslides, & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 1, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

Washington also had 51 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 2001

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 47 storm reports in Wahkiakum County since 2001 and about $769,000 in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.

0tornadoes
1hail reports, largest 1 inches
0damaging thunderstorm winds
41floods and flash floods

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Dec 2, 2007FloodRosburg$420K
Dec 8, 2015FloodRosburg$339K
Nov 17, 2015FloodPillar Rock$10K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Feb 25, 2025. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Wahkiakum County

Check your address flood zone ›
5.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (110 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.8 millionpaid on 93 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $456,586 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Wahkiakum County

$396,800median home value (Washington $564,600, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Washington 1985, US 1980)
52%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.2%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 2,250 housing units.

Compare in Washington

All 39 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
King CountyVery HighEarthquake
Pierce CountyHighEarthquake
Snohomish CountyHighEarthquake
Spokane CountyModerateInland flooding
Clark CountyModerateInland flooding
Thurston CountyHighEarthquake
Kitsap CountyModerateEarthquake
Yakima CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Cowlitz CountyModerate21
Lewis CountyModerate35
Columbia County, ORLow14
Clatsop County, ORHigh16
Pacific CountyModerate24

Common questions about Wahkiakum County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Wahkiakum County?

Tsunami has the highest expected yearly losses in Wahkiakum County, about $2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Wahkiakum County had?

Wahkiakum County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 28 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2026.

Is Wahkiakum County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 36th highest of 39 in Washington. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Wahkiakum County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 19 homes in Wahkiakum County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Wahkiakum County had?

NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Wahkiakum County since 1950. The weather service has also logged 1 hail reports and 41 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.