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Natural hazard risk in Spokane County, Washington

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

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Moderate (score 89.9 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$98.8 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1964
31[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$1.8 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
16[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) gives Spokane County an overall Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, compared with other US counties[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores within the county are cold wave, ice storm and wildfire[6].

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 estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Spokane County at $98.8 million a year[1]. This is FEMA's estimate of average yearly loss, not money anyone paid[7]. FEMA's sorted loss values show the largest shares come from inland flooding at $52.9 million a year, then cold wave at $20.1 million a year, then wildfire at $7.0 million a year[8]. FEMA rates Social Vulnerability Relatively Low, which describes how susceptible social groups are to harm from natural hazards[9]. FEMA rates Community Resilience Relatively High, which describes a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards[10]. The index does not predict next year's losses[7].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
Cold WaveRelatively High$20.1 million[11]
Ice StormVery High$2.7 million[12]
WildfireRelatively Moderate$7.0 million[13]
Heat WaveRelatively Moderate$7.0 million[14]
Inland FloodingRelatively Moderate$52.9 million[15]
Strong WindRelatively High$2.5 million[16]
Winter WeatherRelatively High$400,000[17]
EarthquakeRelatively Low$3.5 million[18]
AvalancheRelatively Moderate$656,000[19]
HailRelatively Low$498,000[20]
LightningRelatively Moderate$353,000[21]
LandslideVery Low$2,576[22]
TornadoRelatively Low$1.1 million[23]
DroughtVery Low$1,674[24]

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

Social vulnerability and community resilience

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

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively Low21.0[9]
Community resilienceRelatively High75.7[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding in Spokane County Relatively Moderate for Risk Index, with an Expected Annual Loss of $52.9 million a year[15]. OpenFEMA data as of 2026-08-03 lists 124 flood insurance contracts on 774 residential structures inside the mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, so 16% of homes inside the SFHA are insured[26]. OpenFEMA lists 62 NFIP claims for losses from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $1.8 million in total[3]. To check an address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[27].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[15] Relatively Moderate, $52.9 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[26] 244 of 181,582 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[26] 774, of which 124 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 62 filed, $1.8 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 31 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Spokane County since 1964, and 17 of them were for fire[2]. The most recent listed is EM-3650-WA for wildfires, declared 2026-08-03[28]. NOAA's tornado database records 16 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024, and none were rated F3 or EF3 or stronger[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Spokane County, since 1964
Incident type Declarations
Fire[2] 17
Flood[2] 6
Severe Storm[2] 4
Drought[2] 1
Coastal Storm[2] 1
Severe Ice Storm[2] 1
Volcanic Eruption[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
EM-3650-WA[28] Wildfires 2026-08-03
FM-5658-WA[28] Fairview Fire 2026-08-02
FM-5659-WA[28] Autumn Lane Fire 2026-08-02
FM-5656-WA[28] Old Trails Fire 2026-08-01
FM-5638-WA[28] Upriver Fire 2026-06-16

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.

Winter storms and cold

Before

  • Insulate your home and learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
  • Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup.
  • Keep several days of supplies in case the power goes out, including medication and pet needs.
  • Put an emergency kit in your car with jumper cables, sand, blankets, water and snacks, and keep the tank full.

During

  • Under a winter storm warning, find shelter right away.
  • Stay off the roads if you can. If you are stuck in your car, stay inside it.
  • Run generators and grills only outdoors, away from windows, and never heat your home with an oven or stove.

Source: Ready.gov, winter storms and cold

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

Extreme heat

Before

  • Learn the signs of heat illness and how to respond.
  • Do not rely on a fan as your main way to stay cool. Fans do not lower body temperature.
  • Find cool public places, such as libraries or malls, or ask your local health department.
  • Keep heat out with window shades, weather stripping and insulation.
  • If you cannot afford cooling costs, contact LIHEAP for help.

During

  • Never leave a person or an animal in a parked car in warm weather.
  • If your home has no air conditioning, go to a cooling center.
  • Wear light, loose clothing, drink plenty of fluids and avoid hard outdoor work in the middle of the day.

Source: Ready.gov, extreme heat

Questions people ask

Is Spokane County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties, with an Expected Annual Loss of $52.9 million a year[15]. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center shows the flood zone for a specific address[27].
Does Spokane County have tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 16 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties[23].
Is Spokane County at risk of wildfire?
FEMA rates wildfire Relatively Moderate for Risk Index, with a score of 96.5 out of 100[13]. OpenFEMA lists 17 fire declarations that include the county since 1964[2].
Is Spokane County at risk of earthquakes or hurricanes?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties[18]. FEMA rates hurricane Not Applicable for the county[25].
How many disasters have been declared in Spokane County?
OpenFEMA lists 31 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include the county since 1964[2].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Spokane County is $98.8 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively Moderate, score 90.5). Of this, buildings account for $63.3 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $35.4... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 31 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Spokane County since 1964 (13 major disaster, 18 emergency or fire management). By incident type: fire 17, flood 6, severe storm 4, drought 1, coastal storm 1, severe ice storm 1, volcanic eruption 1.... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 62 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Spokane County, 34 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $1.8 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid). Years... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 16 recorded tornadoes touched Spokane County. The strongest were rated F2 (most recent of them on 1957-05-06). 0 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2024-04-18. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Spokane County is Relatively Moderate, with a Risk Index score of 89.9 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. 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 Spokane County are cold wave (97.4, Relatively High), ice storm (97.0, Very High), wildfire (96.5, Relatively Moderate). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published scores;... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. 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
  8. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Spokane County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($52.9 million a year), cold wave ($20.1 million a year), wildfire ($7.0 million a year), out of $98.8 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Spokane County is Relatively Low (score 21.0). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Spokane County is Relatively High (score 75.7). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Spokane County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 97.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $20.1 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 1.11 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Spokane County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 97.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.7 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 0.33 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Spokane County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 96.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $7.0 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0037 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Spokane County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 94.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $7.0 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 3.94 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of... FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Spokane County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 91.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $52.9 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 1.18 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of... FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Spokane County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 91.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.5 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.25 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Spokane County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 87.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $400,000 a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 18.85 events 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), earthquake in Spokane County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 85.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.5 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0016 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), avalanche in Spokane County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 82.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $656,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.07 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 28 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Spokane County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 63.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $498,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.26 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Spokane County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 57.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $353,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 16.22 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Spokane County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 56.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2,576 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Spokane County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 42.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.1 million a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.08 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), drought in Spokane County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 16.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1,674 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 13.24 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Spokane County: coastal flooding, hurricane, tsunami, volcanic activity. 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... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  26. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 244 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Spokane County, out of 181,582 residential structures, a penetration rate of 0.1%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 774 residential structures and 124 contracts, a... 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.