Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Mount Vernon than in 79% of U.S. towns, led by earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mount Vernon gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns, #156 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (50%), then river and rain flooding (48%). Flood insurance has paid 71 claims here since 1979.
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 stands out about Mount Vernon’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Mount Vernon 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 Mount Vernon’s grade
Earthquakes are 50% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mount Vernon, and Mount Vernon’s rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts. Volcanic activity adds 2%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #156 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mount Vernon’s 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, Mount Vernon has more expected damage per building than 55% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $19.1M a year in losses across Mount Vernon: $13.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mount Vernon flood? Sometimes: 71 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mount Vernon, from FEMA’s records: 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver3 claims · $22K
Mount Vernon is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Skagit County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Mount Vernon
Disasters that paid out in Mount Vernon itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Mount Vernon), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides44 households applied for aid$270K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides58 households applied for aid$138K aid approved$190K to the City of Mount Vernon for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2014Flooding and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding12 households applied for aid$15K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$38K to the City of Mount Vernon for repairs
- 2006Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides$1K to the City of Mount Vernon for repairs
Show all 8
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides12 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding26 households applied for aid$40K aid approved$68K to the City of Mount Vernon for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Skagit County has had 24 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 Skagit County, 2015–2015.
Old photos of Mount Vernon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mount Vernon archive →Mount Vernon and its neighbors
Mount Vernon is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Lake | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Mount Vernon | C−more damage than 79% | earthquakes | 71 |
| Burlington | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
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 Mount Vernon 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.
- Mount Vernon residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Mount Vernon
Is Mount Vernon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mount Vernon has higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #156 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (50%) and river and rain flooding (48%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Mount Vernon flood?
Flood insurance has paid 71 claims in Mount Vernon since 1979, $658K in all, or 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver (3).
Is Mount Vernon 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 Skagit County, 4.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Mount Vernon?
Mount Vernon is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Mount Vernon?
By FEMA money that reached Mount Vernon, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2021): 58 households applied for aid, $138K approved, and $190K to the City of Mount Vernon for repairs. By flood claims, 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver: 3 paid, $22K.
Is Mount Vernon at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (50%), and Mount Vernon’s rate for it is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mount Vernon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mount Vernon’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.