Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Tumwater than in 87% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tumwater gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, #218 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (76%), then river and rain flooding (23%). Flood insurance has paid 4 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 Tumwater 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 Tumwater’s grade
Earthquakes are 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Tumwater, and Tumwater’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 23% (lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
D #218 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Tumwater’s residents live in 10 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, Tumwater has more expected damage per building than 76% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $21.5M a year in losses across Tumwater: $14.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Tumwater flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1990
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Tumwater, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Winter storm1 claim · $7K
Tumwater 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.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Tumwater
Disasters that paid out in Tumwater itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Tumwater), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding$89K to the City of Tumwater for repairs
- 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$198K to the City of Tumwater for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$51K to the City of Tumwater for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$19K to the City of Tumwater for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides6 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$16K to the City of Tumwater for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 9
- 2006Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides$21K to the City of Tumwater for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides7 households applied for aid$88 aid approved
- 2001Earthquake$51K to the City of Tumwater for repairs
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 Tumwater after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Tumwater archive →Tumwater and its neighbors
Tumwater has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tumwater | Dmore damage than 87% | earthquakes | 4 |
| Olympia | Dmore damage than 88% | earthquakes | 18 |
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 Tumwater 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 Tumwater
Is Tumwater at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tumwater has higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #218 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (76%) and river and rain flooding (23%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Tumwater flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Tumwater since 1990, $21K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Winter storm (1).
Is Tumwater 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 Tumwater?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Tumwater’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 Tumwater?
By FEMA money that reached Tumwater, Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2012): $198K to the City of Tumwater for repairs. By flood claims, Winter storm: 1 paid, $7K.
Is Tumwater at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Tumwater’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Tumwater.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Tumwater’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.