Photo: Steven Baltakatei Sandoval · CC BY-SA 4.0Storms, floods and disasters in Bucoda
Bucoda isn’t graded for hazard risk: Bucoda has 494 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 40 claims here since 1990.
What Bucoda 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.
Does Bucoda flood? Sometimes: 40 flood claims since 1990
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bucoda, from FEMA’s records.
Bucoda isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Thurston County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bucoda
Disasters that paid out in Bucoda itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Bucoda), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding18 households applied for aid$19K aid approved$18K to the Town of Bucoda for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides$3K to the Town of Bucoda for repairs
- 2001Earthquake$5K to the Town of Bucoda for repairs
Thurston County has had 25 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 Thurston County, 2020–2020.
Old photos of Bucoda after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bucoda archive →Get ready for what Bucoda 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 Bucoda
Does Bucoda flood?
Flood insurance has paid 40 claims in Bucoda since 1990, $275K in all. 3 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Bucoda 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 Thurston County, 43% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bucoda?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bucoda’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 Bucoda?
By FEMA money that reached Bucoda, Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding (2009): 18 households applied for aid, $19K approved, and $18K to the Town of Bucoda for repairs.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bucoda.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bucoda’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.