More hazard damage per building is expected in Graham than in 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Graham gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #85 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (55%), then river and rain flooding (44%). 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 Graham 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 Graham’s grade
Earthquakes are 55% of the building damage FEMA expects in Graham, and Graham’s rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 44% (lower than 63% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #85 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Graham’s residents live in 11 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, Graham has less expected damage per building than 70% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.8M a year in losses across Graham: $7.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Graham flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Graham. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Graham 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.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Graham
Disasters that paid out in Graham itself (aid to households or repair grants to Graham), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides6 households applied for aid$88K aid approved
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding8 households applied for aid$16K aid approved
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides6 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
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 Graham after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Graham archive →Graham and its neighbors
Graham is 4th of the 5 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 | — |
| South Hill | C+more damage than 62% | earthquakes | 5 |
| Elk Plain | C+more damage than 62% | earthquakes | — |
| Graham | C+more damage than 65% | earthquakes | 0 |
| South Creek | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Kapowsin | — | 466 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 Graham 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 Graham
Is Graham at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Graham has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #85 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (55%) and river and rain flooding (44%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Graham 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 Graham?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Graham’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 Graham?
By FEMA money that reached Graham, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2025): 6 households applied for aid, $88K approved.
Is Graham at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (55%), and Graham’s rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Graham.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Graham’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.