Klickitat County, Washington Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · WA
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 74th
Klickitat County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 73.9, 74th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and volcanic activity exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $26M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Klickitat County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 73.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 74th 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.
Risk here concentrates in wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at High risk — $14M in expected annual loss and about 0.02 events per year; volcanic activity (eruptions producing ashfall, lava, and pyroclastic hazards) at Low risk — $31K in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; and ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at High risk — $406K in expected annual loss and about 0.21 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $26M in expected annual loss for a population of 23K.
Beyond physical exposure, Klickitat County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a 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.
History supports the rating: Klickitat County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1964, including 9 for fire events and 7 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (flood), declared in April 2026.
Among 39 Washington counties, Klickitat County ranks #24 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | High | 0.02 / yr | $14M |
| Volcanic Activity | Low | 0.01 / yr | $31K |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.21 / yr | $406K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.69 / yr | $13K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.01 / yr | $1M |
| Avalanche | Low | 0.03 / yr | $8K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.25 / yr | $9M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 15.20 / yr | $83K |
| Lightning | Low | 7.67 / yr | $228K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.41 / yr | $739K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.12 / yr | $189K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $70K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.13 / yr | $152K |
| Drought | Very Low | 22.58 / yr | $2K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $23K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Klickitat County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1964, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2026. Most frequent causes: Fire (9), Flood (7), Severe Storm (7).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| July 2025 | Fire | Burdoin Fire |
| April 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| July 2023 | Fire | Newell Road Fire |
| March 2022 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding |
| April 2021 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2015 | Fire | Horsethief Butte Fire |
| August 2015 | Fire | Wildfires |
Showing the 10 most recent of 29 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Klickitat County?
Klickitat County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 73.9 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 74th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Klickitat County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (High, $14M EAL), Volcanic Activity (Low, $31K EAL), Ice Storm (High, $406K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Klickitat County compare to other Washington counties?
Klickitat County ranks #24 of 39 Washington counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Klickitat County had?
FEMA records 29 federal disaster declarations for Klickitat County since 1964, most often 9 for fire events and 7 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, declared in April 2026.
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. Klickitat County's $26M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.