Photo: OceanLoop · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Olympia faces more hazard damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Olympia gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #227 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (76%), then river and rain flooding (23%). Flood insurance has paid 18 claims here since 1987.
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 Olympia 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 Olympia’s grade
Earthquakes are 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Olympia, and Olympia’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 23% (lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts).
D #227 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Olympia’s residents live in 21 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, Olympia has more expected damage per building than 80% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $58.9M a year in losses across Olympia: $31.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Olympia flood? Sometimes: 18 flood claims since 1987
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Olympia, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Winter storm1 claim · $143K
Olympia isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Thurston County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Olympia
Disasters that paid out in Olympia itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Olympia), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides23 households applied for aid$63K aid approved
- 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$828K to the City of Olympia for repairs
- 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$348K to the City of Olympia for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding63 households applied for aid$123K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$57K to the City of Olympia for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides161 households applied for aid$355K aid approved$192K to the City of Olympia for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2006Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides$46K to the City of Olympia for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides34 households applied for aid$22K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding23 households applied for aid$40K aid approved
- 2001Earthquake$713K to the City of Olympia for repairs
Thurston County has had 25 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. 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 Thurston County, 2020–2020.
Old photos of Olympia after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Olympia archive →Olympia and its neighbors
Olympia is 3rd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
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 Olympia 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 Olympia
Is Olympia at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Olympia has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #227 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (76%) and river and rain flooding (23%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Olympia flood?
Flood insurance has paid 18 claims in Olympia since 1987, $416K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Winter storm (1).
Is Olympia 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 Thurston County, 43% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Olympia?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Olympia’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 Olympia?
By FEMA money that reached Olympia, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2020): $828K to the City of Olympia for repairs. By flood claims, Winter storm: 1 paid, $143K.
Is Olympia at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Olympia’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Olympia.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Olympia’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.