Photo: Sam Beebe/Ecotrust · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Ilwaco faces more hazard damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, led by earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ilwaco gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (40%), then river and rain flooding (32%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1997.
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 Ilwaco’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Ilwaco 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
Tsunamis
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 Ilwaco’s grade
Earthquakes are 40% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ilwaco, and Ilwaco’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts. Tsunamis add 25%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ilwaco’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.1M a year in losses across Ilwaco: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ilwaco flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1997
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ilwaco, from FEMA’s records: 3.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Ilwaco isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Pacific County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ilwaco
Disasters that paid out in Ilwaco itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Ilwaco), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$22K to the City of Ilwaco for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides29 households applied for aid$12K aid approved
- 2006Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides$2K to the City of Ilwaco for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$57K to the City of Ilwaco for repairs
Pacific County has had 23 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 Ilwaco after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ilwaco archive →Get ready for what Ilwaco 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.
- Strong shaking or a sudden drop in the sea means head for high ground now.
- Learn the tsunami route signs near the shore.
- Stay away until officials say it’s safe.
- 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 Ilwaco
Is Ilwaco at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ilwaco has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (40%) and river and rain flooding (32%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ilwaco flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Ilwaco since 1997, $5K in all, or 3.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Ilwaco 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 Pacific County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Ilwaco?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ilwaco’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 Ilwaco?
By FEMA money that reached Ilwaco, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2006): $57K to the City of Ilwaco for repairs.
Is Ilwaco at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (40%), and Ilwaco’s rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ilwaco.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ilwaco’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.