Ryan House · Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Sumner than in 97% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sumner gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #278 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (65%), then river and rain flooding (32%). Flood insurance has paid 131 claims here since 1996.
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 Sumner’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Sumner 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 Sumner’s grade
Earthquakes are 65% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sumner, and Sumner’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Volcanic activity adds 3%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #278 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Sumner’s residents live in 8 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, Sumner has more expected damage per building than 98% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $28.8M a year in losses across Sumner: $22.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sumner flood? Yes: 131 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sumner, from FEMA’s records: 28.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Torrential rain53 claims · $1.6M
Sumner 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.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sumner
Disasters that paid out in Sumner itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Sumner), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides23 households applied for aid$47K aid approved
- 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$53K to the City of Sumner for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding95 households applied for aid$214K aid approved$305K to the City of Sumner for repairs70 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$6K to the City of Sumner for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides109 households applied for aid$937K aid approved$175K to the City of Sumner for repairs53 flood claims paid that year
- 2001Earthquake$8K to the City of Sumner for repairs
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 Sumner after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sumner archive →Sumner and its neighbors
Sumner is 8th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Tapps | C+more damage than 65% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Bonney Lake | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Edgewood | C−more damage than 81% | earthquakes | — |
| Alderton | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 53 |
| Auburn | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | 14 |
| Pacific | Dmore damage than 94% | earthquakes | 58 |
| North Puyallup | D−more damage than 97% | earthquakes | — |
| Sumner | D−more damage than 97% | earthquakes | 131 |
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 Sumner 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 Sumner
Is Sumner at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sumner has higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #278 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (65%) and river and rain flooding (32%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Sumner flood?
Flood insurance has paid 131 claims in Sumner since 1996, $4.3M in all, or 28.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 39 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Torrential rain (53).
Is Sumner 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 Sumner?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sumner’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 Sumner?
By FEMA money that reached Sumner, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2006): 109 households applied for aid, $937K approved, and $175K to the City of Sumner for repairs. By flood claims, Torrential rain: 53 paid, $1.6M.
Is Sumner at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (65%), and Sumner’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sumner.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sumner’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.