Grimm House · Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Lake Stevens as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Stevens gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #55 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (54%), then earthquakes (46%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1980.
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 Stevens 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 Stevens’ grade
River and rain flooding is 54% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lake Stevens, and Lake Stevens’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 46% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #55 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lake Stevens’ residents live in 10 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 Stevens has less expected damage per building than 81% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.3M a year in losses across Lake Stevens: $7.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lake Stevens flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lake Stevens, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Lake Stevens isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Snohomish County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lake Stevens
Disasters that paid out in Lake Stevens itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Lake Stevens), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides7 households applied for aid$23K aid approved
- 2022Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$22K to the City of Lake Stevens for repairs
- 2015Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$16K to the City of Lake Stevens for repairs
- 2015Severe Windstorm$26K to the City of Lake Stevens for repairs
- 2014Flooding and Mudslides5 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
- 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$26K to the City of Lake Stevens for repairs
Show all 9
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding6 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$33K to the City of Lake Stevens for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides4 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$25K to the City of Lake Stevens for repairs
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 Lake Stevens after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lake Stevens archive →Lake Stevens and its neighbors
Lake Stevens 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Cassidy | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lake Stevens | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Bunk Foss | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Machias | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Cavalero | C−more damage than 76% | 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 Stevens 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 Stevens
Is Lake Stevens at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Stevens has higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #55 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (54%) and earthquakes (46%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lake Stevens flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Lake Stevens since 1980, $17K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Lake Stevens 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 Lake Stevens?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lake Stevens’ 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 Stevens?
By FEMA money that reached Lake Stevens, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2006): 4 households applied for aid, $8K approved, and $25K to the City of Lake Stevens for repairs.
Is Lake Stevens at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (54%), and Lake Stevens’ rate for it is lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lake Stevens.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lake Stevens’ 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.