Tenino Downtown Historic District · Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Tenino’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tenino gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then earthquakes (24%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1990.
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 Tenino 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
Earthquakes
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 Tenino’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Tenino, and Tenino’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 24%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
D− higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Tenino’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Tenino: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Tenino flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1990
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Tenino, from FEMA’s records: 10.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Winter storm1 claim · $14K
Tenino isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Thurston County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Tenino
Disasters that paid out in Tenino itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Tenino), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$29K to the City of Tenino for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding13 households applied for aid$20K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides9 households applied for aid$12K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides$4K to the City of Tenino for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
Thurston County has had 25 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. 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 Thurston County, 2020–2020.
Old photos of Tenino after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Tenino archive →Get ready for what Tenino 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Tenino
Is Tenino at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tenino has higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and earthquakes (24%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Tenino flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Tenino since 1990, $112K in all, or 10.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Winter storm (1).
Is Tenino 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 Thurston County, 43% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Tenino?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Tenino’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 Tenino?
By FEMA money that reached Tenino, Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2012): $29K to the City of Tenino for repairs. By flood claims, Winter storm: 1 paid, $14K.
Is Tenino at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Tenino’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Tenino.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Tenino’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.