Photo: SounderBruce · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Auburn’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Auburn gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #260 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (57%), then river and rain flooding (42%). Flood insurance has paid 14 claims here since 1990.
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 stands out about Auburn’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Auburn 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 Auburn’s grade
Earthquakes are 57% of the building damage FEMA expects in Auburn, and Auburn’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 42% (higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts).
D #260 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Auburn’s residents live in 22 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, Auburn has more expected damage per building than 91% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $84.1M a year in losses across Auburn: $61.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Auburn flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 1990
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Auburn, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver6 claims · $353K
Auburn is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: King County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Auburn
Disasters that paid out in Auburn itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Auburn), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides144 households applied for aid$555K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$17K to the City of Auburn for repairs
- 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$345K to the City of Auburn for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$61K to the City of Auburn for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding22 households applied for aid$70K aid approved$75K to the City of Auburn for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$53K to the City of Auburn for repairs
Show all 9
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides1 households applied for aid$3K to the City of Auburn for repairs
- 2006Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides$57K to the City of Auburn for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides11 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$20K to the City of Auburn for repairs
Its 2 counties have had 30 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 its 2 counties, 2020–2022.
Old photos of Auburn after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Auburn archive →Auburn and its neighbors
Auburn is 8th of the 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Tapps | C+more damage than 65% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Federal Way | Cmore damage than 71% | earthquakes | 10 |
| Lakeland South | Cmore damage than 72% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Lakeland North | C−more damage than 80% | earthquakes | 3 |
| Lake Morton-Berrydale | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Kent | Dmore damage than 89% | earthquakes | 24 |
| Lake Holm | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Auburn | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | 14 |
| Algona | Dmore damage than 93% | earthquakes | — |
| Pacific | Dmore damage than 94% | earthquakes | 58 |
| Sumner | D−more damage than 97% | earthquakes | 131 |
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 Auburn 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.
- Auburn residents get 25% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Auburn
Is Auburn at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Auburn has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #260 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (57%) and river and rain flooding (42%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Auburn flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Auburn since 1990, $398K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver (6).
Is Auburn 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 King County, 44% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Auburn?
Auburn is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5), which takes 25% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Auburn?
By FEMA money that reached Auburn, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2025): 144 households applied for aid, $555K approved. By flood claims, 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver: 6 paid, $353K.
Is Auburn at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (57%), and Auburn’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Auburn.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Auburn’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.