FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Maltby than in 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Maltby gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #81 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (64%), then river and rain flooding (36%). Flood insurance has paid 13 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 Maltby 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 Maltby’s grade
Earthquakes are 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Maltby, and Maltby’s rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 36% (lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #81 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Maltby’s residents live in 5 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, Maltby has less expected damage per building than 72% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.1M a year in losses across Maltby: $4.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Maltby flood? Sometimes: 13 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Maltby, from FEMA’s records: 3.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Winter storm1 claim · $160K
Maltby 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.The storms Maltby remembers
None of the 31 disasters declared for Snohomish County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Maltby itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19964 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms, Land and Muds Slides,flooding, declared for Snohomish County
- 19952 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, High Wind, and Flooding, declared for Snohomish County
- 19801 flood claims paidThe year of Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. Helens, declared for Snohomish County
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 Maltby after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Maltby archive →Maltby and its neighbors
Maltby is 4th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearview | C+more damage than 59% | earthquakes | 5 |
| Cathcart | C+more damage than 59% | earthquakes | — |
| Cottage Lake | C+more damage than 62% | earthquakes | 9 |
| Maltby | C+more damage than 64% | earthquakes | 13 |
| Bothell East | Cmore damage than 66% | earthquakes | — |
| Bothell | C−more damage than 76% | earthquakes | 6 |
| High Bridge | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
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 Maltby 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 Maltby
Is Maltby at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Maltby has higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #81 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (64%) and river and rain flooding (36%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Maltby flood?
Flood insurance has paid 13 claims in Maltby since 1980, $452K in all, or 3.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Winter storm (1).
Is Maltby 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 Maltby?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Maltby’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 Maltby?
By flood claims, Winter storm: 1 paid, $160K.
Is Maltby at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Maltby’s rate for it is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Maltby.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Maltby’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.