Holy Trinity Episcopal Church · Photo: Jon Roanhaus · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Palouse than in 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palouse gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1996.
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 Palouse faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
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 Palouse’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Palouse, and Palouse’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Palouse’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $477K a year in losses across Palouse: $379K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Palouse flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Palouse, from FEMA’s records: 7.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Palouse isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Whitman County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Palouse
Disasters that paid out in Palouse itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Palouse), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$2K to the City of Palouse for repairs
Whitman County has had 14 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 Whitman County, 2020–2020.
Old photos of Palouse after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Palouse archive →Get ready for what Palouse faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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 Palouse
Is Palouse at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palouse has higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Palouse flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Palouse since 1996, $263K in all, or 7.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Palouse 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 Whitman County, 0.3% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Palouse?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Palouse’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 Palouse?
By FEMA money that reached Palouse, Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow (2008): $2K to the City of Palouse for repairs.
Is Palouse at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Palouse’s rate for it is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Palouse.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Palouse’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.