Photo: Dicklyon · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Vashon faces more hazard damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Vashon gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #221 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (62%), then river and rain flooding (36%). Flood insurance has paid 22 claims here since 1982.
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 Vashon 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 Vashon’s grade
Earthquakes are 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Vashon, and Vashon’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #221 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Vashon’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, Vashon has more expected damage per building than 77% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.9M a year in losses across Vashon: $6.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Vashon flood? Sometimes: 22 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Vashon, from FEMA’s records: 4.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Vashon isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: King County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Vashon
Disasters that paid out in Vashon itself (aid to households or repair grants to Vashon), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$34K aid approved
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding6 households applied for aid$16K aid approved
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides5 households applied for aid$24K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides11 households applied for aid$675 aid approved
King County has had 30 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 King County, 2022–2022.
Old photos of Vashon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Vashon archive →Vashon and its neighbors
Vashon is 3rd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
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 Vashon 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 Vashon
Is Vashon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Vashon has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #221 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (62%) and river and rain flooding (36%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Vashon flood?
Flood insurance has paid 22 claims in Vashon since 1982, $1.2M in all, or 4.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Vashon 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 King County, 44% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Vashon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Vashon’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 Vashon?
By FEMA money that reached Vashon, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2025): 2 households applied for aid, $34K approved.
Is Vashon at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Vashon’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Vashon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Vashon’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.