Photo: Dcoetzee · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Bremerton than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bremerton gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #212 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (80%), then river and rain flooding (18%). Flood insurance has paid 9 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 Bremerton 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 Bremerton’s grade
Earthquakes are 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bremerton, and Bremerton’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #212 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bremerton’s residents live in 17 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, Bremerton has more expected damage per building than 74% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $30.9M a year in losses across Bremerton: $17.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bremerton flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bremerton, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Bremerton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Kitsap County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bremerton
Disasters that paid out in Bremerton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Bremerton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides439 households applied for aid$797K aid approved$406K to the City of Bremerton for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding42 households applied for aid$47K aid approved
- 2001Earthquake$284K to the City of Bremerton for repairs
Kitsap 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.
Old photos of Bremerton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bremerton archive →Bremerton and its neighbors
Bremerton is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tracyton | C+more damage than 65% | earthquakes | — |
| Navy Yard City | C−more damage than 75% | earthquakes | — |
| Port Orchard | C−more damage than 84% | earthquakes | 2 |
| Kitsap Lake | C−more damage than 84% | earthquakes | — |
| Rocky Point | Dmore damage than 86% | earthquakes | — |
| Bremerton | Dmore damage than 86% | earthquakes | 9 |
| Enetai | Dmore damage than 89% | earthquakes | 5 |
| Gorst | — | 550 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Erlands Point | — | 854 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 Bremerton 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 Bremerton
Is Bremerton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bremerton has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #212 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (80%) and river and rain flooding (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bremerton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Bremerton since 1982, $121K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Bremerton 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 Kitsap County, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bremerton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bremerton’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 Bremerton?
By FEMA money that reached Bremerton, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2007): 439 households applied for aid, $797K approved, and $406K to the City of Bremerton for repairs.
Is Bremerton at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Bremerton’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bremerton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bremerton’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.