Photo: Squarestate7 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Walla Walla’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Walla Walla gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #27 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%), then earthquakes (36%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim 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 Walla Walla’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Walla Walla 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 Walla Walla’s grade
River and rain flooding is 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Walla Walla, and Walla Walla’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 36% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #27 of 285 in Washington; lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Walla Walla’s residents live in 11 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, Walla Walla has less expected damage per building than 91% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.7M a year in losses across Walla Walla: $6.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Walla Walla flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Walla Walla, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 100% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Walla Walla isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Walla Walla County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Walla Walla
Disasters that paid out in Walla Walla itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Walla Walla), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$66K to the City of Walla Walla for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides$695K to the City of Walla Walla for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$91K to the City of Walla Walla for repairs
Walla Walla County has had 8 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 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Walla Walla County, 2006–2015.
Old photos of Walla Walla after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Walla Walla archive →Walla Walla and its neighbors
Walla Walla is 2nd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walla Walla East | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Walla Walla | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Garrett | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | — |
| College Place | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
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 Walla Walla 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 Walla Walla
Is Walla Walla at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Walla Walla has lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #27 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%) and earthquakes (36%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Walla Walla flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Walla Walla since 1996, $93K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 100% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Walla Walla 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 Walla Walla County, 0.7% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Walla Walla?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Walla Walla’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 Walla Walla?
By FEMA money that reached Walla Walla, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides (2017): $695K to the City of Walla Walla for repairs.
Is Walla Walla at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Walla Walla’s rate for it is lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Walla Walla.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Walla Walla’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.