Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Blaine faces more hazard damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Blaine gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, #70 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (60%), then river and rain flooding (37%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2001.
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 Blaine 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 Blaine’s grade
Earthquakes are 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Blaine, and Blaine’s rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #70 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Blaine’s residents live in 4 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, Blaine has less expected damage per building than 76% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.9M a year in losses across Blaine: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Blaine flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2001
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Blaine, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Blaine 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 Blaine
Disasters that paid out in Blaine itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Blaine), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides1 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
- 2021Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides43 households applied for aid$189K aid approved$251K to the City of Blaine for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, Tornado$13K to the City of Blaine for repairs
- 2015Severe Windstorm$20K to the City of Blaine for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$730 aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$10K to the City of Blaine for repairs
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 Blaine after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Blaine archive →Blaine and its neighbors
Blaine has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blaine | C+more damage than 61% | earthquakes | 2 |
| Birch Bay | Cmore damage than 70% | earthquakes | 8 |
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 Blaine 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 Blaine
Is Blaine at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Blaine has higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #70 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (60%) and river and rain flooding (37%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Blaine flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Blaine since 2001, $22K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Blaine 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 Blaine?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Blaine’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 Blaine?
By FEMA money that reached Blaine, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2021): 43 households applied for aid, $189K approved, and $251K to the City of Blaine for repairs.
Is Blaine at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Blaine’s rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Blaine.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Blaine’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.