FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Spanaway than in 69% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Spanaway gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns, #97 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (58%), then river and rain flooding (41%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2006.
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 Spanaway 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 Spanaway’s grade
Earthquakes are 58% of the building damage FEMA expects in Spanaway, and Spanaway’s rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 41% (lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts).
C #97 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Spanaway’s residents live in 9 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, Spanaway has less expected damage per building than 66% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.7M a year in losses across Spanaway: $7.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Spanaway flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2006
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Spanaway, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Spanaway isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Pierce County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Spanaway
Disasters that paid out in Spanaway itself (aid to households or repair grants to Spanaway), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides14 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides9 households applied for aid$5K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
Pierce County has had 21 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 Pierce County, 2020–2020.
Old photos of Spanaway after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Spanaway archive →Spanaway and its neighbors
Spanaway is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frederickson | C+more damage than 61% | earthquakes | — |
| Elk Plain | C+more damage than 62% | earthquakes | — |
| McChord AFB | Cmore damage than 66% | earthquakes | — |
| Spanaway | Cmore damage than 69% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Parkland | C−more damage than 82% | earthquakes | 30 |
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 Spanaway 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 Spanaway
Is Spanaway at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Spanaway has higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #97 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (58%) and river and rain flooding (41%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Spanaway flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Spanaway since 2006, $2K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Spanaway 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 Pierce County, 44% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Spanaway?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Spanaway’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 Spanaway?
By FEMA money that reached Spanaway, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2025): 14 households applied for aid, $6K approved.
Is Spanaway at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (58%), and Spanaway’s rate for it is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Spanaway.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Spanaway’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.