Photo: Steven Pavlov · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Pacific faces more hazard damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pacific gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #270 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (52%), then river and rain flooding (45%). Flood insurance has paid 58 claims here since 2000.
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 Pacific’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Pacific 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 Pacific’s grade
Earthquakes are 52% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pacific, and Pacific’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Volcanic activity adds 3%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D #270 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Pacific’s residents live in 5 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, Pacific has more expected damage per building than 95% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.9M a year in losses across Pacific: $3.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Pacific flood? Sometimes: 58 flood claims since 2000
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pacific, from FEMA’s records: 23.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver21 claims · $2.5M
Pacific isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: King County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Pacific
Disasters that paid out in Pacific itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Pacific), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides69 households applied for aid$683K aid approved21 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding108 households applied for aid$429K aid approved$199K to the City of Pacific for repairs22 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$11K to the City of Pacific for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$13K to the City of Pacific for repairs
King County has had 30 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 King County, 2022–2022.
Old photos of Pacific after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pacific archive →Pacific and its neighbors
Pacific is 5th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland South | Cmore damage than 72% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Edgewood | C−more damage than 81% | earthquakes | — |
| Auburn | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | 14 |
| Algona | Dmore damage than 93% | earthquakes | — |
| Pacific | Dmore damage than 94% | earthquakes | 58 |
| Sumner | D−more damage than 97% | earthquakes | 131 |
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 Pacific 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 Pacific
Is Pacific at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pacific has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #270 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (52%) and river and rain flooding (45%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Pacific flood?
Flood insurance has paid 58 claims in Pacific since 2000, $3.1M in all, or 23.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver (21).
Is Pacific 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 King County, 44% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Pacific?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Pacific’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 Pacific?
By FEMA money that reached Pacific, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2025): 69 households applied for aid, $683K approved. By flood claims, 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver: 21 paid, $2.5M.
Is Pacific at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (52%), and Pacific’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pacific.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pacific’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.