Mary Queen of Heaven Roman Catholic Church · Photo: Williamborg · Public domainStorms, floods and disasters in Sprague
Sprague isn’t graded for hazard risk: Sprague has 583 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1980.
What Sprague faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Wildfire
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.
Does Sprague flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sprague, from FEMA’s records.
Sprague isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lincoln County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Sprague
Disasters that paid out in Sprague itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Sprague), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides$577K to the City of Sprague for repairs
Lincoln County has had 12 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 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Lincoln County, 2014–2018.
Old photos of Sprague after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sprague archive →Get ready for what Sprague faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- 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 Sprague
Does Sprague flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Sprague since 1980, $96K in all.
Is Sprague 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 Lincoln County, 0.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Sprague?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sprague’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 Sprague?
By FEMA money that reached Sprague, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides (2017): $577K to the City of Sprague for repairs.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sprague.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sprague’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.