Photo: formulanone · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Bainbridge Island faces more hazard damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bainbridge Island gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #108 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (62%), then river and rain flooding (29%). Flood insurance has paid 36 claims here since 1999.
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 Bainbridge Island’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bainbridge Island 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
Coastal 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 Bainbridge Island’s grade
Earthquakes are 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bainbridge Island, and Bainbridge Island’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 7%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
C #108 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bainbridge Island’s residents live in 6 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, Bainbridge Island has less expected damage per building than 62% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $15.9M a year in losses across Bainbridge Island: $10.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bainbridge Island flood? Sometimes: 36 flood claims since 1999
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bainbridge Island, from FEMA’s records: 3.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Winter storm4 claims · $108K
Bainbridge Island isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Kitsap County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bainbridge Island
Disasters that paid out in Bainbridge Island itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Bainbridge Island), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides49 households applied for aid$89K aid approved$361K to the City of Bainbridge Island for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Tidal Surge, Landslides, and Mudslides$65K to the City of Bainbridge Island for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2001Earthquake$2K to the City of Bainbridge Island for repairs
Kitsap County has had 13 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.
Old photos of Bainbridge Island after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bainbridge Island archive →Bainbridge Island and its neighbors
Bainbridge Island has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bainbridge Island | Cmore damage than 71% | earthquakes | 36 |
| Manchester | C−more damage than 76% | earthquakes | 3 |
| Seattle | C−more damage than 83% | earthquakes | 156 |
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 Bainbridge Island 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Bainbridge Island
Is Bainbridge Island at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bainbridge Island has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #108 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (62%) and river and rain flooding (29%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bainbridge Island flood?
Flood insurance has paid 36 claims in Bainbridge Island since 1999, $1.3M in all, or 3.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Winter storm (4).
Is Bainbridge Island 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 Kitsap County, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bainbridge Island?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bainbridge Island’s 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 Bainbridge Island?
By FEMA money that reached Bainbridge Island, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2007): 49 households applied for aid, $89K approved, and $361K to the City of Bainbridge Island for repairs. By flood claims, Winter storm: 4 paid, $108K.
Is Bainbridge Island at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Bainbridge Island’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bainbridge Island.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bainbridge Island’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.