Photo: SounderBruce · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Bothell than in 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bothell gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, #139 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (61%), then river and rain flooding (39%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1978.
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 Bothell 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 Bothell’s grade
Earthquakes are 61% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bothell, and Bothell’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 39% (lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #139 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bothell’s residents live in 16 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, Bothell has less expected damage per building than 51% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $26.0M a year in losses across Bothell: $19.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bothell flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bothell, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Bothell isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: King County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bothell
Disasters that paid out in Bothell itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Bothell), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides7 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2020Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$253K to the City of Bothell for repairs
- 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$18K to the City of Bothell for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides$35K to the City of Bothell for repairs
- 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$94K to the City of Bothell for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding3 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
Show all 12
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$109K to the City of Bothell for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides30 households applied for aid$54K aid approved$111K to the City of Bothell for repairs
- 2006Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides$64K to the City of Bothell for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides12 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2001Earthquake$450 to the City of Bothell for repairs
Its 2 counties have had 37 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 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in its 2 counties, 2022–2022.
Old photos of Bothell after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bothell archive →Bothell and its neighbors
Bothell is 4th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maltby | C+more damage than 64% | earthquakes | 13 |
| Bothell East | Cmore damage than 66% | earthquakes | — |
| Bothell West | Cmore damage than 72% | earthquakes | 2 |
| Bothell | C−more damage than 76% | earthquakes | 6 |
| Kirkland | C−more damage than 79% | earthquakes | 6 |
| Kenmore | C−more damage than 81% | earthquakes | 4 |
| Woodinville | C−more damage than 83% | earthquakes | — |
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 Bothell 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 Bothell
Is Bothell at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bothell has higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #139 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (61%) and river and rain flooding (39%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bothell flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Bothell since 1978, $30K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Bothell 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 King County, 44% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bothell?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bothell’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 Bothell?
By FEMA money that reached Bothell, Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2020): $253K to the City of Bothell for repairs.
Is Bothell at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (61%), and Bothell’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bothell.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bothell’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.