Yakima Indian Agency Building · Photo: Steven Pavlov · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Toppenish than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Toppenish gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #210 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then earthquakes (30%). Flood insurance has paid 7 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 Toppenish 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 Toppenish’s grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Toppenish, and Toppenish’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 30% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
D #210 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Toppenish’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, Toppenish has more expected damage per building than 74% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.5M a year in losses across Toppenish: $2.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Toppenish flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Toppenish, from FEMA’s records: 2.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Toppenish isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Yakima County.The storms Toppenish remembers
None of the 19 disasters declared for Yakima County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Toppenish itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19967 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms, Land and Muds Slides,flooding, declared for Yakima County
Yakima County has had 19 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 16 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Yakima County, 2000–2026.
Old photos of Toppenish after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Toppenish archive →Get ready for what Toppenish 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 Toppenish
Is Toppenish at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Toppenish has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #210 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and earthquakes (30%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Toppenish flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Toppenish since 1996, $44K in all, or 2.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Toppenish 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 Yakima County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Toppenish?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Toppenish’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Toppenish at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Toppenish’s rate for it is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Toppenish.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Toppenish’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.