More hazard damage per building is expected in Southworth than in 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Southworth gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (64%), then river and rain flooding (31%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1986.
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 Southworth 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 Southworth’s grade
Earthquakes are 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Southworth, and Southworth’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Southworth’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Southworth: $801K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Southworth flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1986
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Southworth, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Southworth isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Kitsap County.The storms Southworth remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for Kitsap County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Southworth itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19861 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Kitsap County has had 13 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 Southworth after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Southworth archive →Get ready for what Southworth 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 Southworth
Is Southworth at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Southworth has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (64%) and river and rain flooding (31%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Southworth flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Southworth since 1986, $8K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Southworth 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 Kitsap County, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Southworth?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Southworth’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Southworth at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Southworth’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Southworth.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Southworth’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.