Less hazard damage per building is expected in Lake Shore than in 63% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Shore gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, #34 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (54%), then earthquakes (44%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2009.
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 Shore 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 Shore’s grade
River and rain flooding is 54% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lake Shore, and Lake Shore’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 44% (higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts).
B #34 of 285 in Washington; lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lake Shore’s residents live in 2 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 Shore has less expected damage per building than 88% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Lake Shore: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lake Shore flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2009
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lake Shore, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Lake Shore 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 Lake Shore remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for Clark County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Lake Shore itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20091 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
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 Lake Shore after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lake Shore archive →Lake Shore and its neighbors
Lake Shore 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | Bless damage than 63% | earthquakes | 5 |
| Lake Shore | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Salmon Creek | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hazel Dell | B−less damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Felida | B−more damage than 52% | 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 Lake Shore 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 Shore
Is Lake Shore at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Shore has lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #34 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (54%) and earthquakes (44%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lake Shore flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Lake Shore since 2009, $10K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Lake Shore 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 Lake Shore?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lake Shore’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Lake Shore at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (54%), and Lake Shore’s rate for it is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lake Shore.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lake Shore’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.