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Natural hazard risk in Stevens County, Washington

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

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Low (score 60.3 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$18.3 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1974
21[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$61,000[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
5[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates Stevens County's overall natural hazard risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores within the county are wildfire, landslide and inland flooding[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 at $18.3 million a year, and rates it Relatively Low[1]. This is a FEMA estimate of average yearly loss, not money anyone paid[7]. By expected loss, FEMA's largest hazards are inland flooding at $10.6 million a year, wildfire at $4.9 million a year and cold wave at $1.6 million a year[8]. FEMA rates Social Vulnerability Relatively Moderate[9]. That describes how susceptible social groups are to harm from natural hazards[9]. FEMA rates Community Resilience Relatively Low, which describes a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards[10].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
WildfireRelatively Moderate$4.9 million[11]
LandslideRelatively Moderate$147,000[12]
Inland FloodingRelatively Low$10.6 million[13]
Cold WaveRelatively Moderate$1.6 million[14]
Winter WeatherRelatively Moderate$85,000[15]
Heat WaveRelatively Low$540,000[16]
Ice StormRelatively Low$67,000[17]
EarthquakeVery Low$157,000[18]
AvalancheVery Low$257[19]
DroughtVery Low$170[20]
TornadoVery Low$86,000[21]
Strong WindVery Low$82,000[22]
LightningVery Low$29,000[23]
HailVery Low$18,000[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 Moderate58.7[9]
Community resilienceRelatively Low38.0[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively Low for Stevens County, with an Expected Annual Loss of $10.6 million a year[13]. OpenFEMA lists 55 residential flood insurance contracts in force as of 2026-08-03, out of 18,762 residential structures[26]. OpenFEMA NFIP records from 1978 to 2026 show 15 claims for losses in the county, 8 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $61,000 in total[3]. To learn the flood zone of an address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[27].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[13] Relatively Low, $10.6 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[26] 55 of 18,762 homes
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 15 filed, $61,000 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 21 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Stevens County since 1974[2]. By incident type, 11 were fire and 3 were flood[2]. The most recent listed were EM-3650-WA for wildfires, declared 2026-08-03, and FM-5659-WA for the Autumn Lane Fire, declared 2026-08-02[28]. NOAA's tornado database records 5 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024, and the strongest were rated F2[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Stevens County, since 1974
Incident type Declarations
Fire[2] 11
Severe Storm[2] 4
Flood[2] 3
Drought[2] 1
Volcanic Eruption[2] 1
Coastal Storm[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
EM-3650-WA[28] Wildfires 2026-08-03
FM-5659-WA[28] Autumn Lane Fire 2026-08-02
FM-5411-WA[28] Ford Corkscrew Fire 2021-08-16
DR-4249-WA[28] Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides 2016-01-15
DR-4243-WA[28] Wildfires And Mudslides 2015-10-20

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

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

Questions people ask

Is Stevens County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties[13]. For a specific address, look it up in FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[27].
Is Stevens County at risk of wildfire?
FEMA rates wildfire risk Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties, with a score of 96.4[11]. FEMA estimates wildfire Expected Annual Loss at $4.9 million a year[11].
Is Stevens County at risk of tornadoes?
FEMA rates tornado risk Very Low compared with other US counties[21]. NOAA's tornado database records 5 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4].
Is Stevens County at risk of earthquakes or hurricanes?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Very Low compared with other US counties[18]. FEMA rates hurricane Not Applicable for the county[25].
How many disasters have been declared in Stevens County?
OpenFEMA lists 21 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include the county since 1974[2].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Stevens County is $18.3 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively Low, score 57.2). Of this, buildings account for $15.3 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $3.0... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 21 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Stevens County since 1974 (10 major disaster, 11 emergency or fire management). By incident type: fire 11, severe storm 4, flood 3, drought 1, volcanic eruption 1, coastal storm 1. Biological (such as... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 15 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Stevens County, 8 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $61,000 in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid). OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 5 recorded tornadoes touched Stevens County. The strongest were rated F2 (most recent of them on 1972-04-05). 0 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 1997-07-21. 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 Stevens County is Relatively Low, with a Risk Index score of 60.3 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 Stevens County are wildfire (96.4, Relatively Moderate), landslide (95.9, Relatively Moderate), inland flooding (68.6, Relatively Low). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's... 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 Stevens County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($10.6 million a year), wildfire ($4.9 million a year), cold wave ($1.6 million a year), out of $18.3 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 Stevens County is Relatively Moderate (score 58.7). 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 Stevens County is Relatively Low (score 38.0). 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), wildfire in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 96.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $4.9 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0052 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 95.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $147,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 68.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $10.6 million a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.64 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 26... FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 66.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.6 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 1.05 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), winter weather in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 62.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $85,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 24.36 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 62.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $540,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 3.58 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 47.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $67,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.09 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 42.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $157,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.002 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), avalanche in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 42.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $257 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.03 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), drought in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 13.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $170 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 12.16 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 12.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $86,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.09 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 12.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $82,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.19 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 9.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $29,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 20.59 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 7.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $18,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.2 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Stevens 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): 55 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Stevens County, out of 18,762 residential structures, a penetration rate of 0.3%. 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.