Photo: brewbooks · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Oak Harbor as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oak Harbor gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #59 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (72%), then river and rain flooding (26%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 2018.
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 Oak Harbor 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 Oak Harbor’s grade
Earthquakes are 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Oak Harbor, and Oak Harbor’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #59 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Oak Harbor’s residents live in 9 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, Oak Harbor has less expected damage per building than 80% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.8M a year in losses across Oak Harbor: $6.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Oak Harbor flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 2018
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Oak Harbor, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Oak Harbor isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Island County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Oak Harbor
Disasters that paid out in Oak Harbor itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Oak Harbor), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$11K to the City of Oak Harbor for repairs
- 2006Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides$13K to the City of Oak Harbor for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Tidal Surge, Landslides, and Mudslides$64K to the City of Oak Harbor for repairs
Island County has had 19 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.
Old photos of Oak Harbor after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Oak Harbor archive →Oak Harbor and its neighbors
Oak Harbor has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Harbor | C+more damage than 56% | earthquakes | 5 |
| Whidbey Island Station | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | — |
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 Oak Harbor 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 Oak Harbor
Is Oak Harbor at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oak Harbor has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #59 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (72%) and river and rain flooding (26%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Oak Harbor flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Oak Harbor since 2018, $72K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Oak Harbor 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 Island County, 30% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Oak Harbor?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Oak Harbor’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 Oak Harbor?
By FEMA money that reached Oak Harbor, Severe Storms, Flooding, Tidal Surge, Landslides, and Mudslides (2006): $64K to the City of Oak Harbor for repairs.
Is Oak Harbor at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Oak Harbor’s rate for it is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Oak Harbor.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Oak Harbor’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.