FEMA puts Woods Creek’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woods Creek gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #240 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then earthquakes (24%). Flood insurance has paid 46 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 stands out about Woods Creek’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Woods Creek 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 Woods Creek’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Woods Creek, and Woods Creek’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 24% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
D #240 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Woods Creek’s residents live in 3 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, Woods Creek has more expected damage per building than 84% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.1M a year in losses across Woods Creek: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Woods Creek flood? Sometimes: 46 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Woods Creek, from FEMA’s records: 21.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Torrential rain5 claims · $99K
- The 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver1 claim · $28K
Woods Creek isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Snohomish County.The storms Woods Creek remembers
None of the 31 disasters declared for Snohomish County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Woods Creek itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 200913 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding, declared for Snohomish County
- 19866 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Snohomish County
- 19905 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and High Tides, declared for Snohomish County
Snohomish County has had 31 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 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Snohomish County, 2022–2022.
Old photos of Woods Creek after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Woods Creek archive →Woods Creek and its neighbors
Woods Creek is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chain Lake | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 87 |
| Woods Creek | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 46 |
| Monroe | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 66 |
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 Woods Creek 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 Woods Creek
Is Woods Creek at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woods Creek has higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #240 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and earthquakes (24%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Woods Creek flood?
Flood insurance has paid 46 claims in Woods Creek since 1982, $563K in all, or 21.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Torrential rain (5).
Is Woods Creek 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 Snohomish County, 27% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Woods Creek?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Woods Creek’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 Woods Creek?
By flood claims, Torrential rain: 5 paid, $99K.
Is Woods Creek at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Woods Creek’s rate for it is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Woods Creek.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Woods Creek’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.