Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0Camano’s building-damage rate from coastal flooding is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Camano gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #63 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (54%), then river and rain flooding (33%). Flood insurance has paid 79 claims here since 1981.
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 stands out about Camano’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Camano 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
Coastal 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 Camano’s grade
Earthquakes are 54% of the building damage FEMA expects in Camano, and Camano’s rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 12%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #63 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Camano’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, Camano has less expected damage per building than 78% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.1M a year in losses across Camano: $5.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Camano flood? Sometimes: 79 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Camano, from FEMA’s records: 8.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver2 claims · $34K
Camano isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Island County.The storms Camano remembers
None of the 19 disasters declared for Island County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Camano itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201621 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 200616 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides, declared for Island County
- 202112 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, declared for Island County
Island County has had 19 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 Camano after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Camano archive →Get ready for what Camano 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Camano
Is Camano at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Camano has higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #63 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (54%) and river and rain flooding (33%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Camano flood?
Flood insurance has paid 79 claims in Camano since 1981, $1.8M in all, or 8.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver (2).
Is Camano 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 Island County, 30% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Camano?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Camano’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 Camano?
By flood claims, 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver: 2 paid, $34K.
Is Camano at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (54%), and Camano’s rate for it is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Camano.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Camano’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.