Washington has experienced 15,719 documented natural disaster events across its 561 ZIP codes. The cumulative documented property damage stands at $3.2B. A total of 218 fatalities have been attributed to natural disasters in the state.
⚠️ Hazard Distribution
Wildfires lead Washington's disaster profile with 6,763 events (43%). Other significant hazards include earthquakes (6,139 events), floods (1,532 events, $2.4B in damages), and hailstorms (764 events, $531.8M in damages). Washington has no recorded hurricanes in the dataset.
📍 Geographic Impact
The most disaster-affected areas in Washington include ZIP 98616 (1,178 events), ZIP 98625 (1,170 events, $155K in damages), and ZIP 98603 (637 events). These three ZIP codes alone account for 19% of the state's total disaster events, indicating geographic concentration of hazard activity.
📈 Trends Over Time
Disaster frequency in Washington has increased markedly over time. The average annual event count in recent decades is roughly 296% higher than in earlier periods of the record. The year 1980 stands out as particularly active, with 1,778 events recorded — likely driven by a major weather system or disaster season.
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Frequently Asked Questions — Washington
What natural disasters occur in Washington?
Washington has experienced 15,719 documented natural disaster events. The hazard types recorded include wildfires (6,763), earthquakes (6,139), floods (1,532), hailstorms (764), tornadoes (278), severe wind events (193), blizzards (48), and extreme heat events (2). The most common hazard is wildfires, accounting for 43% of all events.
What are the most disaster-prone areas in Washington?
Based on historical records, the most disaster-affected ZIP codes in Washington are ZIP 98616 (1,178 events), ZIP 98625 (1,170 events), ZIP 98603 (637 events), ZIP 98241 (297 events), and ZIP 98267 (269 events). These areas have the highest concentration of recorded natural disaster events in the state.
How much damage have natural disasters caused in Washington?
Natural disasters have caused a documented $3.2B in property damage across Washington. This total is based on records from FEMA, NOAA, and USGS, covering events from the 1950s onward. The actual figure is likely higher, as not all events have complete damage records.
About This Data
State-level data aggregated from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims),
NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records.
Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s.
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By using this site you accept that all information is provided as-is from public sources for informational purposes only, with no guarantee of accuracy. This is not a substitute for professional risk assessment or insurance advice.
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