Washington Flood Zones
Washington faces riverine flooding from atmospheric river-driven rainfall in the Cascades, coastal flooding from Pacific storms, and lahar risk from volcanic mudflows. The Skagit, Snohomish, and Chehalis rivers are among the most flood-prone in the state.
3 of 39 Washington counties are rated high or very high for inland flood risk by FEMA's National Risk Index. 22 communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System, qualifying residents for flood insurance discounts of up to 25%.
Washington Flood Risk Overview
County-level risk ratings from FEMA's National Risk Index across 39 Washington counties.
Inland Flood Risk
3 of 39 counties rated high or very high
Coastal Flood Risk
2 of 18 coastal counties rated high or very high
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment.
Federal Flood Disaster History
Washington has received 35 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
2020s
4
2010s
3
2000s
2
1990s
6
1980s
7
1970s
9
1960s
2
1950s
2
Recent Declarations
Showing 8 most recent of 35 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Washington properties have filed 15,997 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $347.6M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $22K.
Claims by Decade
2020s
2,154
2010s
1,771
2000s
4,958
1990s
5,371
1980s
1,533
1970s
210
Highest-Claim Years
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone A
6,012
Zone AE
4,902
Zone X
3,558
Zone AO
207
Zone D
103
Zone VE
88
Zone AH
53
Zone V
37
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Flood Insurance Discounts in Washington
22 Washington communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), earning flood insurance premium discounts for residents in Special Flood Hazard Areas. CRS classes in Washington range from 5 to 8, with discounts from 10% to 25%.
Auburn
Class 5 - 25% discount
Bellevue
Class 5 - 25% discount
Issaquah
Class 5 - 25% discount
Kent
Class 5 - 25% discount
North Bend
Class 5 - 25% discount
Redmond
Class 5 - 25% discount
Renton
Class 5 - 25% discount
Snoqualmie
Class 5 - 25% discount
Centralia
Class 5 - 25% discount
Monroe
Class 5 - 25% discount
Carnation
Class 6 - 20% discount
Chehalis
Class 6 - 20% discount
+10 more Washington communities participate in CRS.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Look Up Any Washington Address
Enter a WA address to instantly check its FEMA flood zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Free Flood Zone LookupWashington Cities
Explore flood zone information for major cities in Washington.
Washington Flood Zone FAQ
How do I check if my Washington property is in a flood zone?
Enter your WA address in FludZone's free lookup tool. We query FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer in real-time to show your flood zone designation, whether flood insurance is required, and your property's risk level.
Do I need flood insurance in Washington?
If your Washington property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), meaning zones starting with A or V, and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not subject to the federal mandate but lenders may still require coverage, and it is often recommended given Washington's flood history.
What are the most common flood zones in Washington?
The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Washington are Zone AE, Zone A, Zone VE, Zone X. Each zone reflects a different level of flood risk, from high-risk areas where flood insurance is generally required for federally regulated or government-backed mortgages to lower-risk areas where coverage is optional but recommended.
Can I remove my Washington property from a flood zone?
Yes, if your Washington property's natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in the SFHA, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) through FEMA. If your property was raised above the BFE with fill, the process is a LOMR-F. Note that for coastal properties in VE zones, LOMAs are less common because wave action creates risks beyond still-water elevation. A successful LOMA generally removes the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement, but your lender may still choose to require coverage. You'll need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor.
Do any Washington communities offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes, 22 Washington communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for exceeding minimum flood mitigation standards. Residents in participating communities can receive NFIP premium discounts of up to 25% in the Special Flood Hazard Area. Properties outside the SFHA also benefit: CRS classes 1 through 6 receive a 10% discount, and classes 7 through 9 receive a 5% discount on NFIP premiums. Check your city's page on FludZone to see if your community participates.
Sources
This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerDirect Source
The NFHL is the source of all flood zone data shown on this page.
- FEMA Map Service Center — Search by AddressDirect Source
Look up any address to view FIRM panels, FIS reports, and LOMCs.
- NFHL Data and Map StatusTopic Page
View NFHL coverage and data freshness by state and community.
- FEMA National Risk Index — Data ResourcesDirect Source
County-level risk scores for inland flooding, coastal flooding, and hurricane used in the Flood Risk Profile.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API v2Direct Source
Federal disaster declarations filtered for flood-related incident types (Flood, Hurricane, Severe Storm, Coastal Storm).
- OpenFEMA FIMA NFIP Claims API v2Direct Source
Historical NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, aggregated by county and state. Includes claim counts, payouts, and flood zone breakdowns.
Sources last verified: February 2026
Understanding Flood Zones
Learn more about the FEMA flood zone designations common in Washington.