More hazard damage per building is expected in Peaceful Valley than in 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Peaceful Valley gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, #195 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%), then earthquakes (12%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Peaceful Valley 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
Earthquakes
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 Peaceful Valley’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Peaceful Valley, and Peaceful Valley’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 12% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #195 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Peaceful Valley’s residents live in 2 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, Peaceful Valley has more expected damage per building than 68% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.5M a year in losses across Peaceful Valley: $699K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Peaceful Valley flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Peaceful Valley. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Peaceful Valley isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Whatcom County.The storms Peaceful Valley remembers
None of the 21 disasters declared for Whatcom County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Peaceful Valley itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Whatcom County has had 21 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 Whatcom County, 2015–2015.
Peaceful Valley and its neighbors
Peaceful Valley has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peaceful Valley | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Kendall | — | 657 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Peaceful Valley 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Peaceful Valley
Is Peaceful Valley at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Peaceful Valley has higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #195 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and earthquakes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Peaceful Valley 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 Whatcom County, 29% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Peaceful Valley?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Peaceful Valley’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Peaceful Valley at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Peaceful Valley’s rate for it is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Peaceful Valley.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Peaceful Valley’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.