Seattle, WA (ZIP 98144) has a moderate disaster history with 22 recorded events. These include 18 earthquakes, 2 floods, and 1 tornado. Total documented property damage amounts to $1M. Across all recorded events, 1 death has been attributed to natural disasters in this area.
The dominant hazard type for Seattle is earthquakes, with 18 recorded events making up 82% of the area's disaster history. The most recent recorded earthquake occurred on Feb 10, 1997.
Seattle has experienced 2 floods on record. One event reached severity level 4 or 5 on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for flood-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). Flood-related events have caused a combined $755K in documented property damage. 1 fatality has been attributed to floods in this area. The most recent recorded flood occurred on Jan 9, 2013.
Seattle has experienced 1 tornado on record. Tornado-related events have caused a combined $250K in documented property damage. The most recent recorded tornado occurred on Sep 28, 1962.
Seattle has experienced 1 severe wind event on record. The most recent recorded severe wind event occurred on Mar 3, 1956.
The most significant disaster event on record for Seattle was Flash Flood on Dec 14, 2006, which caused $750K in property damage and was linked to 1 fatality. Another major event was EF1 Tornado (Sep 28, 1962), causing $250K in damages.
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Based on federal and state records, ZIP code 98144 has experienced 22 natural disaster events. The hazard types affecting this area include earthquakes (18 events), floods (2 events), tornado (1 event), and severe wind event (1 event). The primary hazard is earthquakes, which account for 82% of all recorded events.
Earthquakes are the most frequently recorded hazard in Seattle, WA, with 18 events documented.
Yes, Seattle (ZIP 98144) has 2 recorded flood events. These floods have caused $755K in total property damage. The most recent flood on record occurred on Jan 9, 2013.
Seattle has 1 recorded tornado event in the historical record. Total property damage from tornadoes in this area is $250K. The most recent tornado was recorded on Sep 28, 1962.
The most damaging natural disaster on record for ZIP code 98144 was Flash Flood, which occurred on Dec 14, 2006. This event caused $750K in documented property damage. It resulted in 1 reported fatality. It was rated at severity level 5/5.
Natural disasters have caused a documented total of $1M in property damage in the Seattle, WA area (ZIP 98144). 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 →