Photo: ECTran71 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Lakewood’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lakewood gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, #197 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (70%), then river and rain flooding (29%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1996.
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 Lakewood faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
River and rain flooding
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 Lakewood’s grade
Earthquakes are 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lakewood, and Lakewood’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 29% (lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #197 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lakewood’s residents live in 15 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, Lakewood has more expected damage per building than 69% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $36.3M a year in losses across Lakewood: $24.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lakewood flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lakewood, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 100% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Lakewood isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Pierce County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lakewood
Disasters that paid out in Lakewood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Lakewood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides10 households applied for aid$39K aid approved
- 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$26K to the City of Lakewood for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding11 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$18K to the City of Lakewood for repairs
- 2006Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides$41K to the City of Lakewood for repairs
Pierce County has had 21 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 Pierce County, 2020–2020.
Old photos of Lakewood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lakewood archive →Lakewood and its neighbors
Lakewood is 8th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Fort Lewis | Cmore damage than 65% | earthquakes | — |
| McChord AFB | Cmore damage than 66% | earthquakes | — |
| University Place | Cmore damage than 71% | earthquakes | 24 |
| Fort Lewis | C−more damage than 76% | earthquakes | — |
| Steilacoom | C−more damage than 76% | earthquakes | 3 |
| Parkland | C−more damage than 82% | earthquakes | 30 |
| Tacoma | C−more damage than 83% | earthquakes | 54 |
| Lakewood | C−more damage than 83% | earthquakes | 2 |
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 Lakewood faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- 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 Lakewood
Is Lakewood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lakewood has higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #197 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (70%) and river and rain flooding (29%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lakewood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Lakewood since 1996, $26K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 100% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Lakewood 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 Pierce County, 44% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lakewood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lakewood’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 Lakewood?
By FEMA money that reached Lakewood, Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides (2006): $41K to the City of Lakewood for repairs.
Is Lakewood at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Lakewood’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lakewood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lakewood’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.