Federal Way, WA (ZIP 98023) has a moderate disaster history with 14 recorded events. These include 12 earthquakes and 2 floods. Total documented property damage amounts to $9M.
The dominant hazard type for Federal Way is earthquakes, with 12 recorded events making up 86% of the area's disaster history. Of these, 2 (17%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for seismic events here is 5/5 (extreme). The most recent recorded earthquake occurred on Mar 18, 2025.
Federal Way has experienced 2 floods on record. Of these, 2 (100%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for flood-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). Flood-related events have caused a combined $9M in documented property damage. The most recent recorded flood occurred on Mar 2, 2014.
The most significant disaster event on record for Federal Way was Flood on Jan 7, 2009, which caused $8.8M in property damage. Another major event was Debris Flow (Mar 2, 2014), causing $200K in damages.
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Based on federal and state records, ZIP code 98023 has experienced 14 natural disaster events. The hazard types affecting this area include earthquakes (12 events) and floods (2 events). The primary hazard is earthquakes, which account for 86% of all recorded events.
Earthquakes are the most frequently recorded hazard in Federal Way, WA, with 12 events documented.
Yes, Federal Way (ZIP 98023) has 2 recorded flood events. These floods have caused $9M in total property damage. The most recent flood on record occurred on Mar 2, 2014.
The most damaging natural disaster on record for ZIP code 98023 was Flood, which occurred on Jan 7, 2009. This event caused $8.8M in documented property damage. It was rated at severity level 5/5.
Natural disasters have caused a documented total of $9M in property damage in the Federal Way, WA area (ZIP 98023). This figure is based on historical records from FEMA, NOAA Storm Events Database, and USGS, and covers events from the 1950s through the present. Actual damages may be higher, as not all events have complete damage assessments.
Data sourced 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. Full methodology →