Ferry County, Washington Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · WA
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 52th
Ferry County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 51.7, 52th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $11M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Ferry County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 51.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 52nd national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Ferry County's expected losses come from wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Medium risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $165K in expected annual loss and about 1.67 events per year; and volcanic activity (eruptions producing ashfall, lava, and pyroclastic hazards) at Very Low risk — $11 in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $11M in expected annual loss for a population of 7K.
Beyond physical exposure, Ferry County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Ferry County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including 10 for fire events and 5 for severe storm events. The most recent was Swawilla Fire (fire), declared in July 2024.
Among 39 Washington counties, Ferry County ranks #30 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $5M |
| Landslide | Medium | 1.67 / yr | $165K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $11 |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.82 / yr | $4M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $129K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.79 / yr | $482K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $103 |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 3.58 / yr | $88K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 20.74 / yr | $12K |
| Drought | Very Low | 11.36 / yr | $16 |
| Lightning | Very Low | 19.71 / yr | $21K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.15 / yr | $25K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $10K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $2K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $9K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Ferry County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1974, most recently Swawilla Fire in July 2024. Most frequent causes: Fire (10), Severe Storm (5), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| July 2024 | Fire | Swawilla Fire |
| April 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| February 2021 | Fire | Wildfires and Straight-Line Winds |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| August 2018 | Fire | Boyd's Fire |
| April 2017 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides |
| October 2015 | Fire | Wildfires and Mudslides |
| August 2015 | Fire | Renner Fire |
| August 2015 | Fire | Wildfires |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Ferry County?
Ferry County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 51.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 52th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Ferry County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Medium, $5M EAL), Landslide (Medium, $165K EAL), Volcanic Activity (Very Low, $11 EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Ferry County compare to other Washington counties?
Ferry County ranks #30 of 39 Washington counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Ferry County had?
FEMA records 22 federal disaster declarations for Ferry County since 1974, most often 10 for fire events and 5 for severe storm events. The most recent was Swawilla Fire, declared in July 2024.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Ferry County's $11M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.