On FEMA’s figures, Hockinson faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hockinson gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #39 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%), then earthquakes (20%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1995.
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 Hockinson faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Earthquakes
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 Hockinson’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hockinson, and Hockinson’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 20% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
B #39 of 285 in Washington; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hockinson’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, Hockinson has less expected damage per building than 87% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Hockinson: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hockinson flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1995
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hockinson, from FEMA’s records: 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $1K
Hockinson isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Clark County.The storms Hockinson remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for Clark County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Hockinson itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19952 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, High Wind, and Flooding, declared for Clark County
- 19961 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms, Land and Muds Slides,flooding, declared for Clark County
- 20061 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides, declared for Clark County
Clark County has had 13 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 Clark County, 2022–2022.
Old photos of Hockinson after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hockinson archive →Hockinson and its neighbors
Hockinson is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orchards | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hockinson | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Battle Ground | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Venersborg | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Brush Prairie | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Hockinson faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Hockinson
Is Hockinson at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hockinson has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #39 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and earthquakes (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hockinson flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Hockinson since 1995, $24K in all, or 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Torrential rain (1).
Is Hockinson 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 Clark County, 29% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hockinson?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hockinson’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 Hockinson?
By flood claims, Torrential rain: 1 paid, $1K.
Is Hockinson at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Hockinson’s rate for it is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hockinson.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hockinson’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.