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Natural hazard risk in Chelan County, Washington

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Moderate (score 90.8 of 100)[4]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$88.5 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1972
51[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$3.0 million[3]

FEMA rates overall natural hazard risk in Chelan County Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties, with a Risk Index score of 90.8[4]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores in the county are wildfire, landslide and avalanche[5].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards at $88.5 million a year in Chelan County[1]. This is a FEMA estimate of average yearly loss, not money anyone paid[6]. FEMA's sorted loss values show the largest shares come from inland flooding at $41.3 million a year and wildfire at $34.9 million a year, followed by earthquake at $4.1 million a year[7]. FEMA rates avalanche risk Very High and wildfire risk Relatively High compared with other US counties[8][9]. FEMA rates social vulnerability Relatively Moderate and community resilience Relatively High[10][11]. FEMA does not predict next year's losses with the index[6].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
WildfireRelatively High$34.9 million[9]
LandslideRelatively Moderate$142,000[12]
AvalancheVery High$3.5 million[8]
Inland FloodingRelatively Moderate$41.3 million[13]
Volcanic ActivityRelatively Low$15,000[14]
EarthquakeRelatively Low$4.1 million[15]
LightningRelatively High$841,000[16]
Heat WaveRelatively Low$1.2 million[17]
Winter WeatherRelatively Moderate$164,000[18]
HailRelatively Low$466,000[19]
Cold WaveRelatively Moderate$1.7 million[20]
Ice StormVery Low$17,000[21]
DroughtVery Low$1,985[22]
Strong WindVery Low$74,000[23]
TornadoVery Low$52,000[24]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: coastal flooding, hurricane, tsunami[25].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively Moderate48.6[10]
Community resilienceRelatively High70.4[11]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively Moderate in Chelan County, with Expected Annual Loss of $41.3 million a year[13]. OpenFEMA lists 469 residential flood insurance contracts in force out of 38,443 residential structures, a penetration rate of 1.2%[26]. OpenFEMA NFIP claims data records 183 claims for losses in the county from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $3.0 million in total[3]. County ratings do not tell you the flood zone of an address. Look one up in FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[27].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[13] Relatively Moderate, $41.3 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[26] 469 of 38,443 homes
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 183 filed, $3.0 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[27]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 51 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Chelan County since 1972[2]. By incident type, fire accounts for 34 and severe storm for 7, and flood for 6[2]. The most recent is EM-3650-WA for wildfires, declared 2026-08-03[28].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Chelan County, since 1972
Incident type Declarations
Fire[2] 34
Severe Storm[2] 7
Flood[2] 6
Volcanic Eruption[2] 1
Drought[2] 1
Earthquake[2] 1
Coastal Storm[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
EM-3650-WA[28] Wildfires 2026-08-03
DR-4906-WA[28] Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides 2026-04-07
EM-3629-WA[28] Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides 2025-12-12
FM-5614-WA[28] Lower Sugarloaf Fire 2025-09-26
DR-4650-WA[28] Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding 2022-03-29

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Wildfires

Before

  • Sign up for community alerts and watch for air quality alerts.
  • Make sure everyone knows the evacuation plan, including for school, work and other places you go often.
  • Keep a fire-resistant zone of at least 30 feet around your home, clear of leaves and debris.
  • Use fire-resistant building materials and keep a hose long enough to reach every part of your property.
  • Pick a room you can seal off from outside air and keep a portable air cleaner ready.

During

  • Leave right away when authorities tell you to evacuate.
  • If you are trapped, call 9-1-1 with your location and turn on lights to help rescuers find you.
  • If you are not ordered to leave but there is smoke, stay in a safe indoor place or go to a community building with less smoke.

Source: Ready.gov, wildfires

Floods

Before

  • Check your flood risk with FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and remember that floods do not follow map lines.
  • Sign up for your community's warning system. NOAA Weather Radio also broadcasts alerts.
  • Buy flood insurance through the NFIP well before a disaster. Homeowners policies do not cover flooding, and a new policy typically takes up to 30 days to go into effect.
  • Make a household plan with evacuation routes, shelter locations and what to do in a flash flood.
  • Keep important documents in a waterproof container and make password-protected digital copies.

During

  • If you are told to evacuate, leave right away and never drive around barricades.
  • Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Six inches of moving water can knock you down.
  • If you are trapped in a building, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, floods

Earthquakes

Before

  • Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with your family and coworkers.
  • Sign up for earthquake alerts that can warn you before shaking starts.
  • Make a plan with an out-of-state contact and a place to meet if you get separated.
  • Anchor heavy items such as bookcases, refrigerators and water heaters, and keep heavy things on low shelves.
  • Consider earthquake insurance. Standard homeowners policies do not cover earthquake damage.

During

  • Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck, and hold on until the shaking stops.
  • Indoors, stay where you are and avoid doorways. Outdoors, move to an open area away from buildings and power lines.
  • If you are driving, pull over, stop and set the parking brake.

Source: Ready.gov, earthquakes

Questions people ask

Is Chelan County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively Moderate for Chelan County compared with other US counties[13]. FEMA rates coastal flooding Not Applicable[25].
Is Chelan County at risk of wildfire?
FEMA rates wildfire risk Relatively High for Chelan County, with a score of 99.5 out of 100[9]. OpenFEMA lists 34 fire declarations that include the county since 1972[2].
Is Chelan County at risk of earthquakes?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Relatively Low for Chelan County, with Expected Annual Loss of $4.1 million a year rated Relatively Moderate[15].
Is Chelan County at risk of tornadoes or hurricanes?
FEMA rates tornado risk Very Low for Chelan County compared with other US counties[24]. FEMA rates hurricane risk Not Applicable[25].
How many disasters have been declared in Chelan County?
OpenFEMA lists 51 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Chelan County since 1972[2].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Chelan County is $88.5 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively Moderate, score 89.6). Of this, buildings account for $78.1 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $9.1... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 51 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Chelan County since 1972 (15 major disaster, 36 emergency or fire management). By incident type: fire 34, severe storm 7, flood 6, volcanic eruption 1, drought 1, earthquake 1, coastal storm 1. Biological... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 183 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Chelan County, 127 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $3.0 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid). Years... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Chelan County is Relatively Moderate, with a Risk Index score of 90.8 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  5. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Chelan County are wildfire (99.5, Relatively High), landslide (95.5, Relatively Moderate), avalanche (95.1, Very High). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published scores;... FEMA National Risk Index
  6. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  7. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Chelan County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($41.3 million a year), wildfire ($34.9 million a year), earthquake ($4.1 million a year), out of $88.5 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  8. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), avalanche in Chelan County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 95.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.5 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.27 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 28 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Chelan County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 99.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $34.9 million a year (rating Relatively High). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0234 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Chelan County is Relatively Moderate (score 48.6). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Chelan County is Relatively High (score 70.4). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Chelan County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 95.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $142,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Chelan County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 91.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $41.3 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 1.46 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of... FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), volcanic activity in Chelan County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 90.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $15,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Chelan County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 88.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $4.1 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0066 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Chelan County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 84.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $841,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 9.93 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Chelan County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 77.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.2 million a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 3.66 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Chelan County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 76.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $164,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 26.39 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Chelan County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 67.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $466,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.07 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Chelan County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 66.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.7 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.1 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Chelan County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 21.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $17,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.07 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Chelan County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 17.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1,985 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 7.83 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Chelan County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 10.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $74,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.06 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Chelan County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 9.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $52,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.05 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Chelan County: coastal flooding, hurricane, tsunami. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically possible there. FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  26. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 469 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Chelan County, out of 38,443 residential structures, a penetration rate of 1.2%. OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  27. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  28. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.