C. C. Van Arsdol House · Photo: Ian Poellet · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in West Clarkston-Highland than in 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, West Clarkston-Highland gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #19 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 West Clarkston-Highland 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
Wildfire
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 West Clarkston-Highland’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in West Clarkston-Highland, and West Clarkston-Highland’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 8%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #19 of 285 in Washington; lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
West Clarkston-Highland’s residents live in 5 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, West Clarkston-Highland has less expected damage per building than 94% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $761K a year in losses across West Clarkston-Highland: $599K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does West Clarkston-Highland flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in West Clarkston-Highland. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
West Clarkston-Highland isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Asotin County.The storms West Clarkston-Highland remembers
None of the 10 disasters declared for Asotin County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching West Clarkston-Highland itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Asotin County has had 10 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.
West Clarkston-Highland and its neighbors
West Clarkston-Highland has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Clarkston-Highland | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Lewiston | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Clarkston | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Clarkston Heights-Vineland | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 West Clarkston-Highland 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.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- 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 West Clarkston-Highland
Is West Clarkston-Highland at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, West Clarkston-Highland has lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #19 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and wildfire (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is West Clarkston-Highland 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 Asotin County, 0.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in West Clarkston-Highland?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for West Clarkston-Highland’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is West Clarkston-Highland at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and West Clarkston-Highland’s rate for it is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in West Clarkston-Highland.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where West Clarkston-Highland’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.