More hazard damage per building is expected in Washington Terrace than in 61% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Washington Terrace gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, #68 of 119 in Utah. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (68%), then river and rain flooding (29%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2021.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Washington Terrace faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
River and rain flooding
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.
What’s behind Washington Terrace’s grade
Earthquakes are 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Washington Terrace, and Washington Terrace’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 29% (lower than 90% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #68 of 119 in Utah; higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Washington Terrace’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Utah town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Washington Terrace has more expected damage per building than 57% of Utah towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.9M a year in losses across Washington Terrace: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Washington Terrace flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2021
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Washington Terrace, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Washington Terrace isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Weber County.The storms Washington Terrace remembers
None of the 6 disasters declared for Weber County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Washington Terrace itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20211 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Weber County has had 6 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Weber County, 2003–2017.
Old photos of Washington Terrace after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Washington Terrace archive →Washington Terrace and its neighbors
Washington Terrace is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Ogden | Bless damage than 58% | earthquakes | 3 |
| Washington Terrace | C+more damage than 61% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Riverdale | C+more damage than 64% | earthquakes | 4 |
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 Washington Terrace faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- 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 Washington Terrace
Is Washington Terrace at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Washington Terrace has higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #68 of 119 in Utah. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (68%) and river and rain flooding (29%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Washington Terrace flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Washington Terrace since 2021, $6K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Washington Terrace 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 Weber County, 8% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Washington Terrace?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Washington Terrace’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Washington Terrace at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Washington Terrace’s rate for it is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Washington Terrace.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Washington Terrace’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.