Photo: brewbooks · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Coupeville faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Coupeville gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (67%), then river and rain flooding (28%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2015.
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 Coupeville 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 Coupeville’s grade
Earthquakes are 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Coupeville, and Coupeville’s rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 4%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Coupeville’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $860K a year in losses across Coupeville: $620K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Coupeville flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2015
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Coupeville, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Coupeville 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.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Coupeville
Disasters that paid out in Coupeville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Coupeville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$140K to the Town of Coupeville for repairs
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 Coupeville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Coupeville archive →Get ready for what Coupeville 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 Coupeville
Is Coupeville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Coupeville has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (67%) and river and rain flooding (28%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Coupeville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Coupeville since 2015, $2K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Coupeville 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 Coupeville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Coupeville’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 Coupeville?
By FEMA money that reached Coupeville, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2020): $140K to the Town of Coupeville for repairs.
Is Coupeville at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Coupeville’s rate for it is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Coupeville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Coupeville’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.