Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Bellingham faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bellingham gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #65 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (54%), then river and rain flooding (44%). Flood insurance has paid 33 claims here since 1980.
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 Bellingham’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bellingham 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 Bellingham’s grade
Earthquakes are 54% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bellingham, and Bellingham’s rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 44% (lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #65 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bellingham’s residents live in 24 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, Bellingham has less expected damage per building than 77% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $41.8M a year in losses across Bellingham: $27.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bellingham flood? Sometimes: 33 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bellingham, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver4 claims · $391K
Bellingham isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Whatcom County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bellingham
Disasters that paid out in Bellingham itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Bellingham), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides40 households applied for aid$257K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides256 households applied for aid$824K aid approved$375K to the City of Bellingham for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Windstorm$114K to the City of Bellingham for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding159 households applied for aid$404K aid approved$305K to the City of Bellingham for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$97K to the City of Bellingham for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding34 households applied for aid$43K aid approved$8K to the City of Bellingham for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Whatcom County has had 21 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 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Whatcom County, 2015–2015.
Old photos of Bellingham after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bellingham archive →Bellingham and its neighbors
Bellingham 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | C+more damage than 58% | earthquakes | 33 |
| Marietta-Alderwood | Cmore damage than 66% | earthquakes | 2 |
| Geneva | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Bellingham 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 Bellingham
Is Bellingham at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bellingham has higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #65 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (54%) and river and rain flooding (44%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bellingham flood?
Flood insurance has paid 33 claims in Bellingham since 1980, $2.3M in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver (4).
Is Bellingham 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 Whatcom County, 29% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bellingham?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bellingham’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 Bellingham?
By FEMA money that reached Bellingham, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2021): 256 households applied for aid, $824K approved, and $375K to the City of Bellingham for repairs. By flood claims, 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver: 4 paid, $391K.
Is Bellingham at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (54%), and Bellingham’s rate for it is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bellingham.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bellingham’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.