Photo: Orange Suede Sofa · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Belfair than in 92% of U.S. towns, led by earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Belfair gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #261 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (49%), then river and rain flooding (48%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2017.
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 Belfair 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 Belfair’s grade
Earthquakes are 49% of the building damage FEMA expects in Belfair, and Belfair’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D #261 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Belfair’s residents live in 2 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, Belfair has more expected damage per building than 92% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Belfair: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Belfair flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2017
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Belfair, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Belfair isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Mason County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Belfair
Disasters that paid out in Belfair itself (aid to households or repair grants to Belfair), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides155 households applied for aid$491K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding13 households applied for aid$28K aid approved
Mason County has had 27 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 Mason County, 2023–2023.
Old photos of Belfair after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Belfair archive →Get ready for what Belfair 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 Belfair
Is Belfair at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Belfair has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #261 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (49%) and river and rain flooding (48%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Belfair flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Belfair since 2017, $17K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Belfair 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 Mason County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Belfair?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Belfair’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 Belfair?
By FEMA money that reached Belfair, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2007): 155 households applied for aid, $491K approved.
Is Belfair at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (49%), and Belfair’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Belfair.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Belfair’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.