W. T. PRESTON (snagboat) · Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Anacortes than in 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Anacortes gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #26 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (56%), then river and rain flooding (40%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2014.
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 Anacortes 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 Anacortes’ grade
Earthquakes are 56% of the building damage FEMA expects in Anacortes, and Anacortes’ rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #26 of 285 in Washington; lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Anacortes’ residents live in 9 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Washington town has higher expected damage than 76% of U.S. towns; within the state, Anacortes has less expected damage per building than 91% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.2M a year in losses across Anacortes: $4.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Anacortes flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2014
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Anacortes, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Anacortes isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Skagit County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Anacortes
Disasters that paid out in Anacortes itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Anacortes), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides1 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding$327K to the City of Anacortes for repairs
- 2021Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides7 households applied for aid$2.2M to the City of Anacortes for repairs
- 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$14.6M to the City of Anacortes for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding4 households applied for aid$676 aid approved
- 2006Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides$29K to the City of Anacortes for repairs
Show all 9
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides1 households applied for aid$16K to the City of Anacortes for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$29K to the City of Anacortes for repairs
- 2001Earthquake$8K to the City of Anacortes for repairs
Skagit County has had 24 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Skagit County, 2015–2015.
Old photos of Anacortes after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Anacortes archive →Get ready for what Anacortes 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 Anacortes
Is Anacortes at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Anacortes has lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #26 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (56%) and river and rain flooding (40%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Anacortes flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Anacortes since 2014, $42K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Anacortes 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 Skagit County, 4.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Anacortes?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Anacortes’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Anacortes?
By FEMA money that reached Anacortes, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2020): $14.6M to the City of Anacortes for repairs.
Is Anacortes at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (56%), and Anacortes’ rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Anacortes.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Anacortes’ 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.