Red Men Hall · Photo: Carnuck · CC0Storms, floods and disasters in Index
Index isn’t graded for hazard risk: Index has 173 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 29 claims here since 1980.
What Index 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
Landslides
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.
Does Index flood? Sometimes: 29 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Index, from FEMA’s records.
- The Torrential rain10 claims · $287K
Index is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Snohomish County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Index
Disasters that paid out in Index itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Index), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$87K to the Town of Index for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding7 households applied for aid$33K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$1K to the Town of Index for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides48 households applied for aid$195K aid approved$42K to the Town of Index for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding11 households applied for aid$16K aid approved$1K to the Town of Index for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Snohomish County has had 31 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 Snohomish County, 2022–2022.
Old photos of Index after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Index archive →Get ready for what Index 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.
- Watch for new cracks, tilting trees or suddenly muddy streams after heavy rain.
- Stay off steep slopes in a downpour.
- Leave if you hear rumbling upslope.
- 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.
- Index residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Index
Does Index flood?
Flood insurance has paid 29 claims in Index since 1980, $683K in all. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Torrential rain (10).
Is Index 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 Snohomish County, 27% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Index?
Index is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Index?
By FEMA money that reached Index, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2006): 48 households applied for aid, $195K approved, and $42K to the Town of Index for repairs. By flood claims, Torrential rain: 10 paid, $287K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Index.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Index’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.