Home › Washington › Walla Walla County

Walla Walla County, Washington

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

Relatively Low overall risk
27th of 39highest risk in Washington
$20Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Walla Walla County, Washington has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 60% of US counties. It ranks 27th of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $325 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2020 (severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (145 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.9 million on 100 claims here, including $1.0 million for floods in 2020.

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

Top risks in Walla Walla County

$10.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.

Earthquake

Moderate
$5.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 205 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Heat wave

Moderate
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow64.8
$10M
EarthquakeModerate90.6
$5M
Heat waveModerate81.5
$2M
Cold waveLow51.9
$971K
Ice stormHigh89.4
$830K
WildfireLow83.5
$570K
Strong windLow34.9
$330K
HailLow41.5
$179K
Winter weatherModerate75.7
$163K
LightningLow29.7
$101K
TornadoVery Low11.8
$84K
DroughtVery Low23.5
$9K
LandslideLow69.6
$5K
AvalancheVery Low40.6
$261

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 moderate 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 Walla Walla County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood4
Severe Storm2
Fire2
Volcanic Eruption1
Earthquake1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Apr 23, 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, MudslidesMajor disaster
Jul 21, 2015Blue Creek FireFire management
Mar 2, 2009Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Aug 22, 2006Columbia Fire ComplexFire management
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Mar 1, 2001EarthquakeMajor disaster
Jan 17, 1997Severe Winter Storms, Land & Muds Slides,FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 1996High Winds, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 1980Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. HelensMajor disaster
Show all 11
Dec 29, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 84 storm reports in Walla Walla County since 1958 and about $11.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 26, 1958.

5tornadoes
21hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
38damaging thunderstorm winds
14floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 26, 1958F2–0 / 0
Aug 24, 1987F0–0 / 0
Apr 24, 1958F0–0 / 0
May 22, 1964F0–0 / 0
Aug 9, 1982F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 6, 2020FloodTouchet$9M
Jul 16, 2012Flash FloodTouchet$1M
May 19, 2006Thunderstorm WindBurbank$1M
May 19, 2006Thunderstorm WindBurbank$250K
Apr 9, 2019FloodKooskooskie$152K
Oct 1, 2000Heavy RainWaitsburg$90K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 1, 2026. 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 Walla Walla County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (145 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.9 millionpaid on 100 flood claims since 1978
2020costliest year, with $1 million 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 Walla Walla County

$408,900median home value (Washington $564,600, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Washington 1985, US 1980)
60%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.4%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; 25,422 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
Benton CountyModerate18
Franklin CountyLow9
Umatilla County, ORModerate13
Columbia CountyVery Low14

Cities in Walla Walla County

Common questions about Walla Walla County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Walla Walla County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Walla Walla County, about $10.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $5.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Walla Walla County had?

Walla Walla County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2020.

Is Walla Walla County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 27th 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 Walla Walla County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Walla Walla 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 Walla Walla County had?

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Walla Walla County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 26, 1958. The weather service has also logged 21 hail reports and 14 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.