FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Clover Creek than in 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clover Creek gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #102 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (64%), then river and rain flooding (35%). Flood insurance has paid 15 claims here since 1979.
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 Clover Creek 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 Clover Creek’s grade
Earthquakes are 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Clover Creek, and Clover Creek’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 35% (lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
C #102 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Clover Creek’s residents live in 3 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, Clover Creek has less expected damage per building than 64% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.8M a year in losses across Clover Creek: $2.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Clover Creek flood? Sometimes: 15 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Clover Creek, from FEMA’s records: 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Clover Creek isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Pierce County.The storms Clover Creek remembers
None of the 21 disasters declared for Pierce County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Clover Creek itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19903 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and High Tides, declared for Pierce County
- 19963 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms, Land and Muds Slides,flooding, declared for Pierce County
- 19912 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Pierce County has had 21 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 Pierce County, 2020–2020.
Old photos of Clover Creek after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Clover Creek archive →Clover Creek and its neighbors
Clover Creek is 3rd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frederickson | C+more damage than 61% | earthquakes | — |
| Summit View | C+more damage than 62% | earthquakes | — |
| Clover Creek | Cmore damage than 70% | earthquakes | 15 |
| Summit | Cmore damage than 71% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Midland | C−more damage than 77% | earthquakes | 2 |
| Parkland | C−more damage than 82% | earthquakes | 30 |
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 Clover Creek 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 Clover Creek
Is Clover Creek at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clover Creek has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #102 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (64%) and river and rain flooding (35%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Clover Creek flood?
Flood insurance has paid 15 claims in Clover Creek since 1979, $36K in all, or 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Clover Creek 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 Pierce County, 44% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Clover Creek?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Clover Creek’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Clover Creek at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Clover Creek’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Clover Creek.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Clover Creek’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.