Photo: Jelson25 · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Friday Harbor as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Friday Harbor gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns, #50 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (58%), then river and rain flooding (40%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Friday Harbor 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 Friday Harbor’s grade
Earthquakes are 58% of the building damage FEMA expects in Friday Harbor, and Friday Harbor’s rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #50 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Friday Harbor’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, Friday Harbor has less expected damage per building than 83% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Friday Harbor: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Friday Harbor flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Friday Harbor. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Friday Harbor isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: San Juan County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Friday Harbor
Disasters that paid out in Friday Harbor itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Friday Harbor), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
San Juan County has had 9 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 Friday Harbor after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Friday Harbor archive →Get ready for what Friday Harbor 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 Friday Harbor
Is Friday Harbor at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Friday Harbor has higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #50 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (58%) and river and rain flooding (40%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Friday Harbor 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 San Juan County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Friday Harbor?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Friday Harbor’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 Friday Harbor?
By FEMA money that reached Friday Harbor, Severe Storms and Flooding (2003): 1 households applied for aid, $1K approved.
Is Friday Harbor at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (58%), and Friday Harbor’s rate for it is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Friday Harbor.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Friday Harbor’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.