Redmond City Park · Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Redmond than in 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Redmond gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, #187 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (70%), then river and rain flooding (30%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1983.
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 Redmond 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 Redmond’s grade
Earthquakes are 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Redmond, and Redmond’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 30% (lower than 65% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #187 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Redmond’s residents live in 13 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, Redmond has more expected damage per building than 65% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $53.7M a year in losses across Redmond: $39.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Redmond flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Redmond, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Redmond is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: King County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Redmond
Disasters that paid out in Redmond itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Redmond), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides7 households applied for aid$49K aid approved
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides$48K to the City of Redmond for repairs
- 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$84K to the City of Redmond for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding$7K to the City of Redmond for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$169K to the City of Redmond for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides7 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
Show all 7
- 2006Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides$148K to the City of Redmond 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 Redmond after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Redmond archive →Redmond and its neighbors
Redmond 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cottage Lake | C+more damage than 62% | earthquakes | 9 |
| Union Hill-Novelty Hill | Cmore damage than 69% | earthquakes | 5 |
| Sammamish | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Kirkland | C−more damage than 79% | earthquakes | 6 |
| Redmond | C−more damage than 83% | earthquakes | 8 |
| Bellevue | C−more damage than 83% | earthquakes | 39 |
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 Redmond 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.
- Redmond residents get 25% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Redmond
Is Redmond at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Redmond has higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #187 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (70%) and river and rain flooding (30%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Redmond flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Redmond since 1983, $119K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Redmond 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 Redmond?
Redmond is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5), which takes 25% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Redmond?
By FEMA money that reached Redmond, Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow (2008): $169K to the City of Redmond for repairs.
Is Redmond at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Redmond’s rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Redmond.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Redmond’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.