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Lake Forest Park, WA - city hallPhoto: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0
C−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Lake Forest Park · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Lake Forest Park faces more hazard damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Forest Park gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, #186 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (63%), then river and rain flooding (37%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2007.

Earthquakes 63%River and rain flooding 37%

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

more than 83%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#186 of 285 in Washington
Hazard risk
C−#186 of 285
in Washington · higher than 83% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Earthquakes
63% of expected building damage
Flood claims
3
paid since 2007 · $27K
Disasters paid out here
7
of 30 declared for King County
By hazard

What Lake Forest Park faces

Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.

Earthquakes

63%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts

River and rain flooding

37%of expected building damage
About average · lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 4 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Ice storms Hail Strong wind Wildfire Winter storms Heat waves Landslides Lightning Volcanic activity top 3%
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingHurricanesCold wavesAvalanchesTsunamis
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts earthquakes at 72% of Lake Forest Park’s expected losses. Earthquakes do little damage to buildings (63.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Lake Forest Park’s grade

Earthquakes are 63% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lake Forest Park, and Lake Forest Park’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 37% (lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Lake Forest Park sits
Lake Forest Park
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C− #186 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Lake Forest Park’s residents live in 5 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Earthquakes63%River and rain flooding37%

The typical Washington town has higher expected damage than 76% of U.S. towns; within the state, Lake Forest Park has more expected damage per building than 65% of Washington towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.5M a year in losses across Lake Forest Park: $6.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Lake Forest Park covers 5 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Lake Forest Park flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2007

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lake Forest Park, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
2007: 1 claim2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 1 claim2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200720132023
20072026
Biggest named events
  • The Winter storm1 claim · $2K
3
paid claims since 2007
$27K
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$9K
average claim
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Lake Forest Park isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: King County.
Disasters

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lake Forest Park

Disasters that paid out in Lake Forest Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Lake Forest Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides3 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
  2. 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$30K to the City of Lake Forest Park for repairs
  3. 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$24K to the City of Lake Forest Park for repairs
  4. 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides41 households applied for aid$153K aid approved$133K to the City of Lake Forest Park for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  5. 2006Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides$34K to the City of Lake Forest Park for repairs
  6. 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides1 households applied for aid$2K to the City of Lake Forest Park for repairs
Show all 7
  1. 2003Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Lake Forest ParkKing County only

King County has had 30 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. 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 King County, 2022–2022.

Were you here?

Old photos of Lake Forest Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Lake Forest Park archive →
Next door

Lake Forest Park and its neighbors

Lake Forest Park is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Shoreline: hazard risk C−Kenmore: hazard risk C−ShorelineKenmoreLake Forest Park
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
KenmoreC−more damage than 81%earthquakes4
Lake Forest ParkC−more damage than 83%earthquakes3
ShorelineC−more damage than 83%earthquakes4

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Lake Forest Park faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Lake Forest Park

Is Lake Forest Park at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Forest Park has higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #186 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (63%) and river and rain flooding (37%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Lake Forest Park flood?

Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Lake Forest Park since 2007, $27K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Winter storm (1).

Is Lake Forest Park 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 King County, 44% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Lake Forest Park?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lake Forest Park’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 Lake Forest Park?

By FEMA money that reached Lake Forest Park, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2007): 41 households applied for aid, $153K approved, and $133K to the City of Lake Forest Park for repairs. By flood claims, Winter storm: 1 paid, $2K.

Is Lake Forest Park at risk from earthquakes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (63%), and Lake Forest Park’s rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lake Forest Park.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lake Forest Park’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.