Photo: Official U.S. Navy Page from United States of America MC1 Nathan Lockwood/U.S. Navy · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Mukilteo as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mukilteo gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #64 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (73%), then river and rain flooding (26%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1986.
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 Mukilteo 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 Mukilteo’s grade
Earthquakes are 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mukilteo, and Mukilteo’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 26% (lower than 94% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #64 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mukilteo’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, Mukilteo has less expected damage per building than 78% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.5M a year in losses across Mukilteo: $7.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mukilteo flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1986
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mukilteo, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Mukilteo 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.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Mukilteo
Disasters that paid out in Mukilteo itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Mukilteo), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$48K to the City of Mukilteo for repairs
- 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$31K to the City of Mukilteo for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$23K to the City of Mukilteo for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides14 households applied for aid$14K aid approved$29K to the City of Mukilteo for repairs
- 2006Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides$5K to the City of Mukilteo for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides3 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
Show all 8
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Tidal Surge, Landslides, and Mudslides$3K to the City of Mukilteo for repairs
- 2001Earthquake$6K to the City of Mukilteo for repairs
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 Mukilteo after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mukilteo archive →Mukilteo and its neighbors
Mukilteo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Picnic Point | B−less damage than 51% | earthquakes | 3 |
| Mukilteo | C+more damage than 58% | earthquakes | 2 |
| Everett | Cmore damage than 72% | earthquakes | 8 |
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 Mukilteo 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 Mukilteo
Is Mukilteo at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mukilteo has higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #64 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (73%) and river and rain flooding (26%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Mukilteo flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Mukilteo since 1986, $13K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Mukilteo 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 Mukilteo?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mukilteo’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 Mukilteo?
By FEMA money that reached Mukilteo, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2015): $48K to the City of Mukilteo for repairs.
Is Mukilteo at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and Mukilteo’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mukilteo.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mukilteo’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.