Photo: brewbooks from near Seattle, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Enumclaw than in 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Enumclaw gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #183 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (58%), then river and rain flooding (39%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1996.
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 Enumclaw’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Enumclaw 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 Enumclaw’s grade
Earthquakes are 58% of the building damage FEMA expects in Enumclaw, and Enumclaw’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts. Landslides add 2%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #183 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Enumclaw’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, Enumclaw has more expected damage per building than 64% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.4M a year in losses across Enumclaw: $6.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Enumclaw flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Enumclaw, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Enumclaw isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: King County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Enumclaw
Disasters that paid out in Enumclaw itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Enumclaw), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides30 households applied for aid$427K aid approved
- 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$104K to the City of Enumclaw for repairs
- 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$89K to the City of Enumclaw for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding20 households applied for aid$52K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides9 households applied for aid$46K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
King 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in King County, 2022–2022.
Old photos of Enumclaw after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Enumclaw archive →Get ready for what Enumclaw 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 Enumclaw
Is Enumclaw at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Enumclaw has higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #183 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (58%) and river and rain flooding (39%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Enumclaw flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Enumclaw since 1996, $28K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Enumclaw 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 King County, 44% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Enumclaw?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Enumclaw’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 Enumclaw?
By FEMA money that reached Enumclaw, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2025): 30 households applied for aid, $427K approved.
Is Enumclaw at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (58%), and Enumclaw’s rate for it is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Enumclaw.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Enumclaw’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.