Storms, floods and disasters in North Washington
North Washington isn’t graded for hazard risk: North Washington has 294 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1990.
What North Washington faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hail
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
Does North Washington flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1990
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in North Washington, from FEMA’s records.
North Washington isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Adams County.The storms North Washington remembers
None of the 8 disasters declared for Adams County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching North Washington itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20222 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19901 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20001 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Adams County has had 8 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of North Washington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the North Washington archive →North Washington and its neighbors
How expected damage per building compares across the town line. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commerce City | Bless damage than 57% | hail | — |
| Twin Lakes | Bless damage than 57% | hail | — |
| Welby | B−less damage than 51% | hail | 2 |
| Berkley | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Denver | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what North Washington faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in North Washington
Does North Washington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in North Washington since 1990, $124K in all.
Is North Washington in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Adams County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in North Washington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for North Washington’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in North Washington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where North Washington’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.