Neely, Sr., Aaron and Sarah, Farm (Additional Documentation) · Photo: Steven Pavlov · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Lake Holm’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Holm gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #243 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%), then earthquakes (35%). Flood insurance has paid 13 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 Lake Holm 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 Lake Holm’s grade
River and rain flooding is 65% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lake Holm, and Lake Holm’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 35% (higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts).
D #243 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lake Holm’s residents live in 3 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, Lake Holm has more expected damage per building than 85% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Lake Holm: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lake Holm flood? Sometimes: 13 flood claims since 1995
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lake Holm, from FEMA’s records: 9.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver3 claims · $321K
- The Torrential rain2 claims · $146K
Lake Holm 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.The storms Lake Holm remembers
None of the 30 disasters declared for King County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Lake Holm itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20063 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides, declared for King County
- 20253 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, declared for King County
- 20152 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
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.
Old photos of Lake Holm after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lake Holm archive →Lake Holm and its neighbors
Lake Holm is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Morton-Berrydale | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Lake Holm | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Auburn | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | 14 |
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 Lake Holm 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 Lake Holm
Is Lake Holm at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Holm has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #243 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%) and earthquakes (35%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lake Holm flood?
Flood insurance has paid 13 claims in Lake Holm since 1995, $522K in all, or 9.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver (3).
Is Lake Holm 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 Holm?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lake Holm’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 Holm?
By flood claims, 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver: 3 paid, $321K.
Is Lake Holm at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (65%), and Lake Holm’s rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lake Holm.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lake Holm’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.