Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Cashmere faces more hazard damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cashmere gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #248 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2009.
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 Cashmere 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
Wildfire
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 Cashmere’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cashmere, and Cashmere’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 6%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #248 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cashmere’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, Cashmere has more expected damage per building than 87% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.8M a year in losses across Cashmere: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cashmere flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2009
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cashmere, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Cashmere isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Chelan County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cashmere
Disasters that paid out in Cashmere itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Cashmere), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides1 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$29K to the City of Cashmere for repairs
- 2006Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides$3K to the City of Cashmere for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$10K to the City of Cashmere for repairs
Chelan 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.
Also 30 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Chelan County, 2001–2025.
Old photos of Cashmere after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cashmere archive →Get ready for what Cashmere 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.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- 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 Cashmere
Is Cashmere at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cashmere has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #248 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and wildfire (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cashmere flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Cashmere since 2009, $8K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Cashmere 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 Chelan County, 1.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Cashmere?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cashmere’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 Cashmere?
By FEMA money that reached Cashmere, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2025): 1 households applied for aid, $11K approved, and $29K to the City of Cashmere for repairs.
Is Cashmere at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Cashmere’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cashmere.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cashmere’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.