Spokane County, Washington Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · WA
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 90th
Spokane County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 90.0, 90th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and ice storm exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $99M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Spokane County is medium, with a National Risk Index score of 90.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 90th national percentile and near the national midpoint 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 cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at High risk — $20M in expected annual loss and about 1.11 events per year; ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Very High risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.33 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Medium risk — $7M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $99M in expected annual loss for a population of 539K.
Beyond physical exposure, Spokane County has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Spokane County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1964, including 13 for fire events and 6 for flood events. The most recent was Upriver Fire (fire), declared in June 2026.
Among 39 Washington counties, Spokane County ranks #13 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | High | 1.11 / yr | $20M |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 0.33 / yr | $3M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $7M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 3.94 / yr | $7M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.18 / yr | $53M |
| Strong Wind | High | 0.25 / yr | $3M |
| Winter Weather | High | 18.85 / yr | $400K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $4M |
| Avalanche | Medium | 0.07 / yr | $656K |
| Hail | Low | 0.26 / yr | $498K |
| Lightning | Medium | 16.22 / yr | $353K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.54 / yr | $3K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.08 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Very Low | 13.24 / yr | $2K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Spokane County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1964, most recently Upriver Fire in June 2026. Most frequent causes: Fire (13), Flood (6), Severe Storm (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | Fire | Upriver Fire |
| February 2024 | Fire | Wildfires |
| August 2023 | Fire | Oregon Fire |
| August 2023 | Fire | Gray Fire |
| July 2021 | Fire | Andrus Fire |
| April 2021 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| September 2020 | Fire | Babb Fire |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| July 2018 | Fire | Upriver Beacon Fire |
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 Spokane County?
Spokane County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 90.0 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 90th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Spokane County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (High, $20M EAL), Ice Storm (Very High, $3M EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $7M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Spokane County compare to other Washington counties?
Spokane County ranks #13 of 39 Washington counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Spokane County had?
FEMA records 29 federal disaster declarations for Spokane County since 1964, most often 13 for fire events and 6 for flood events. The most recent was Upriver Fire, declared in June 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. Spokane County's $99M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.