Glenwood School · Photo: Ian Poellet · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Brush Prairie faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brush Prairie gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #51 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%), then earthquakes (34%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Brush Prairie faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Earthquakes
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 Brush Prairie’s grade
River and rain flooding is 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brush Prairie, and Brush Prairie’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 34% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #51 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brush Prairie’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, Brush Prairie has less expected damage per building than 82% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Brush Prairie: $720K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brush Prairie flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Brush Prairie. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Brush Prairie isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Clark County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Brush Prairie
Disasters that paid out in Brush Prairie itself (aid to households or repair grants to Brush Prairie), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides8 households applied for aid$15K aid approved
Clark 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Clark County, 2022–2022.
Old photos of Brush Prairie after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brush Prairie archive →Brush Prairie and its neighbors
Brush Prairie is 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hockinson | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Barberton | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Battle Ground | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Meadow Glade | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Brush Prairie | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
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 Brush Prairie faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Brush Prairie
Is Brush Prairie at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brush Prairie has higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #51 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%) and earthquakes (34%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Brush Prairie 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 Clark County, 29% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Brush Prairie?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brush Prairie’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 Brush Prairie?
By FEMA money that reached Brush Prairie, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2006): 8 households applied for aid, $15K approved.
Is Brush Prairie at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Brush Prairie’s rate for it is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brush Prairie.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brush Prairie’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.