Photo: Sea Cow · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Port Angeles faces more hazard damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Port Angeles gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, #217 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (76%), then river and rain flooding (20%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1979.
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 Port Angeles 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 Port Angeles’ grade
Earthquakes are 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Port Angeles, and Port Angeles’ rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Tsunamis add 2%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D #217 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Port Angeles’ residents live in 8 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, Port Angeles has more expected damage per building than 76% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $16.9M a year in losses across Port Angeles: $10.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Port Angeles flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Port Angeles, 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.
Port Angeles isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Clallam County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Port Angeles
Disasters that paid out in Port Angeles itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Port Angeles), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$782K to the City of Port Angeles for repairs
- 2021Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides23 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
- 2018Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, Tornado$368K to the City of Port Angeles for repairs
- 2015Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$5K to the City of Port Angeles for repairs
- 2015Severe Windstorm$3K to the City of Port Angeles for repairs
- 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$149K to the City of Port Angeles for repairs
Show all 13
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding7 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$266K to the City of Port Angeles for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$372K to the City of Port Angeles for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides13 households applied for aid$56K aid approved
- 2006Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides$170K to the City of Port Angeles for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Tidal Surge, Landslides, and Mudslides$10K to the City of Port Angeles for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$6K to the City of Port Angeles for repairs
- 2001Earthquake$46K to the City of Port Angeles for repairs
Clallam County has had 25 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 Port Angeles after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Port Angeles archive →Port Angeles and its neighbors
Port Angeles 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Angeles | Dmore damage than 87% | earthquakes | 7 |
| Port Angeles East | Dmore damage than 91% | earthquakes | 6 |
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 Port Angeles 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 Port Angeles
Is Port Angeles at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Port Angeles has higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #217 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (76%) and river and rain flooding (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Port Angeles flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Port Angeles since 1979, $100K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Port Angeles 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 Clallam County, 0.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Port Angeles?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Port Angeles’ 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 Port Angeles?
By FEMA money that reached Port Angeles, Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2024): $782K to the City of Port Angeles for repairs.
Is Port Angeles at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Port Angeles’ rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Port Angeles.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Port Angeles’ 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.