Hallett House · Photo: Jon Roanhaus · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Medical Lake faces less hazard damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Medical Lake gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #17 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), then wildfire (30%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Medical Lake 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
Wildfire
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 Medical Lake’s grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Medical Lake, and Medical Lake’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 30%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
A #17 of 285 in Washington; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Medical Lake’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, Medical Lake has less expected damage per building than 94% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Medical Lake: $779K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Medical Lake flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Medical Lake. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Medical 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: Spokane County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Medical Lake
Disasters that paid out in Medical Lake itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Medical Lake), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Wildfires263 households applied for aid$982K aid approved$151K to the City of Medical Lake for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$7K to the City of Medical Lake for repairs
Spokane County has had 17 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 13 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Spokane County, 2008–2026.
Old photos of Medical Lake after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Medical Lake archive →Get ready for what Medical 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.
- 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.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- 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 Medical Lake
Is Medical Lake at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Medical Lake has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #17 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%) and wildfire (30%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Medical 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 Spokane County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Medical Lake?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Medical Lake’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 Medical Lake?
By FEMA money that reached Medical Lake, Wildfires (2023): 263 households applied for aid, $982K approved, and $151K to the City of Medical Lake for repairs.
Is Medical Lake at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Medical Lake’s rate for it is lower than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Medical Lake.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Medical 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.