FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Martha Lake than in 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Martha Lake gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #84 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (58%), then river and rain flooding (42%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2020.
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 Martha Lake 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 Martha Lake’s grade
Earthquakes are 58% of the building damage FEMA expects in Martha Lake, and Martha Lake’s rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 42% (lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #84 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Martha Lake’s residents live in 6 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, Martha Lake has less expected damage per building than 71% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.7M a year in losses across Martha Lake: $5.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Martha Lake flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2020
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Martha Lake, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Martha Lake 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 Martha Lake remembers
None of the 31 disasters declared for Snohomish County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Martha Lake itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20201 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, 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 Martha Lake after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Martha Lake archive →Martha Lake and its neighbors
Martha Lake is 5th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mill Creek | B−more damage than 54% | earthquakes | — |
| Mill Creek East | C+more damage than 57% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Lake Stickney | C+more damage than 58% | earthquakes | — |
| Larch Way | C+more damage than 61% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Martha Lake | C+more damage than 64% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Bothell West | Cmore damage than 72% | 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 Martha Lake 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 Martha Lake
Is Martha Lake at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Martha Lake has higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #84 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (58%) and river and rain flooding (42%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Martha Lake flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Martha Lake since 2020, $5K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Martha Lake 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 Martha Lake?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Martha Lake’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Martha Lake at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (58%), and Martha Lake’s rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Martha Lake.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Martha Lake’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.