Photo: Steven Baltakatei Sandoval · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Battle Ground faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Battle Ground gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #42 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then earthquakes (23%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1982.
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 Battle Ground faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Earthquakes
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 Battle Ground’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Battle Ground, and Battle Ground’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 23% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B #42 of 285 in Washington; lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Battle Ground’s residents live in 7 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, Battle Ground has less expected damage per building than 86% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.6M a year in losses across Battle Ground: $3.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Battle Ground flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Battle Ground, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Battle Ground isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Clark County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Battle Ground
Disasters that paid out in Battle Ground itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Battle Ground), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, and a T$16K to the City of Battle Ground for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides9 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
Clark 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Clark County, 2022–2022.
Old photos of Battle Ground after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Battle Ground archive →Battle Ground and its neighbors
Battle Ground is 2nd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hockinson | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Battle Ground | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Venersborg | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Meadow Glade | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Brush Prairie | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lewisville | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Cherry Grove | — | 779 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Battle Ground faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Battle Ground
Is Battle Ground at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Battle Ground has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #42 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and earthquakes (23%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Battle Ground flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Battle Ground since 1982, $3K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Battle Ground 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 Clark County, 29% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Battle Ground?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Battle Ground’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 Battle Ground?
By FEMA money that reached Battle Ground, Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, and a T (2015): $16K to the City of Battle Ground for repairs.
Is Battle Ground at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Battle Ground’s rate for it is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Battle Ground.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Battle Ground’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.