Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Elma’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elma gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #266 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (57%), then river and rain flooding (43%). Flood insurance has paid 20 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 Elma 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 Elma’s grade
Earthquakes are 57% of the building damage FEMA expects in Elma, and Elma’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 43% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
D #266 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Elma’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, Elma has more expected damage per building than 93% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.3M a year in losses across Elma: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Elma flood? Sometimes: 20 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Elma, from FEMA’s records: 14.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Winter storm1 claim · $84K
Elma isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Grays Harbor County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Elma
Disasters that paid out in Elma itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Elma), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides13 households applied for aid$117K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding$505K to the City of Elma for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding45 households applied for aid$249K aid approved$19K to the City of Elma for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$5K to the City of Elma for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides220 households applied for aid$295K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides8 households applied for aid$28K aid approved
Show all 7
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding10 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
Grays Harbor County has had 30 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.
Old photos of Elma after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Elma archive →Elma and its neighbors
Elma has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elma | Dmore damage than 94% | earthquakes | 20 |
| Satsop | — | 780 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Elma 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 Elma
Is Elma at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elma has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #266 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (57%) and river and rain flooding (43%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Elma flood?
Flood insurance has paid 20 claims in Elma since 1979, $581K in all, or 14.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Winter storm (1).
Is Elma 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 Grays Harbor County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 4.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Elma?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Elma’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 Elma?
By FEMA money that reached Elma, Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding (2021): $505K to the City of Elma for repairs. By flood claims, Winter storm: 1 paid, $84K.
Is Elma at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (57%), and Elma’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Elma.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Elma’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.