Photo: SounderBruce from Seattle, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Stanwood faces more hazard damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Stanwood gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #232 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (61%), then river and rain flooding (29%). Flood insurance has paid 20 claims here since 1979.
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 Stanwood’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Stanwood 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
Coastal 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 Stanwood’s grade
Earthquakes are 61% of the building damage FEMA expects in Stanwood, and Stanwood’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 9%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D #232 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Stanwood’s residents live in 2 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, Stanwood has more expected damage per building than 81% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.6M a year in losses across Stanwood: $4.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Stanwood flood? Sometimes: 20 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Stanwood, from FEMA’s records: 6.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $7K
Stanwood 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.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Stanwood
Disasters that paid out in Stanwood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Stanwood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides10 households applied for aid$26K aid approved
- 2022Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$50K to the City of Stanwood for repairs
- 2014Flooding and Mudslides5 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$10K to the City of Stanwood for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding58 households applied for aid$71K aid approved$176K to the City of Stanwood for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$16K to the City of Stanwood for repairs
Show all 8
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$27K to the City of Stanwood for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$4K to the City of Stanwood for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
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 Stanwood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Stanwood archive →Stanwood and its neighbors
Stanwood has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanwood | Dmore damage than 88% | earthquakes | 20 |
| Northwest Stanwood | — | 72 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Stanwood 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Stanwood
Is Stanwood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Stanwood has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #232 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (61%) and river and rain flooding (29%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Stanwood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 20 claims in Stanwood since 1979, $340K in all, or 6.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Torrential rain (1).
Is Stanwood 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 Stanwood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Stanwood’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 Stanwood?
By FEMA money that reached Stanwood, Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding (2009): 58 households applied for aid, $71K approved, and $176K to the City of Stanwood for repairs. By flood claims, Torrential rain: 1 paid, $7K.
Is Stanwood at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (61%), and Stanwood’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Stanwood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Stanwood’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.