Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Snohomish than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Snohomish gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #226 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (69%), then river and rain flooding (30%). Flood insurance has paid 46 claims here since 1978.
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 Snohomish’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Snohomish 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 Snohomish’s grade
Earthquakes are 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Snohomish, and Snohomish’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 30% (lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts).
D #226 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Snohomish’s residents live in 4 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, Snohomish has more expected damage per building than 79% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.3M a year in losses across Snohomish: $5.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Snohomish flood? Sometimes: 46 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Snohomish, from FEMA’s records: 9.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Torrential rain4 claims · $121K
- The 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver3 claims · $99K
Snohomish isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Snohomish County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Snohomish
Disasters that paid out in Snohomish itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Snohomish), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides74 households applied for aid$679K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$20K to the City of Snohomish for repairs
- 2015Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$16K to the City of Snohomish for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2014Flooding and Mudslides3 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$22K to the City of Snohomish for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding119 households applied for aid$301K aid approved$597K to the City of Snohomish for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
Show all 12
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$15K to the City of Snohomish for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides20 households applied for aid$88K aid approved$10K to the City of Snohomish for repairs
- 2006Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides$10K to the City of Snohomish for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides73 households applied for aid$367K aid approved$115K to the City of Snohomish for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2001Earthquake$12K to the City of Snohomish for repairs
Snohomish County has had 31 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 Snohomish County, 2022–2022.
Old photos of Snohomish after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Snohomish archive →Snohomish and its neighbors
Snohomish is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fobes Hill | C−more damage than 80% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Snohomish | Dmore damage than 88% | earthquakes | 46 |
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 Snohomish 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 Snohomish
Is Snohomish at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Snohomish has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #226 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (69%) and river and rain flooding (30%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Snohomish flood?
Flood insurance has paid 46 claims in Snohomish since 1978, $1.1M in all, or 9.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Torrential rain (4).
Is Snohomish 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 Snohomish County, 27% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Snohomish?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Snohomish’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 Snohomish?
By FEMA money that reached Snohomish, Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding (2009): 119 households applied for aid, $301K approved, and $597K to the City of Snohomish for repairs. By flood claims, Torrential rain: 4 paid, $121K.
Is Snohomish at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Snohomish’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Snohomish.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Snohomish’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.