Thurston County
Washington — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 94th
Thurston County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 94.5, 94th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $191M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | High | 5.08 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | High | 0.03 / yr | $134M |
| Volcanic Activity | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $195K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.14 / yr | $50M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 4.26 / yr | $4M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.63 / yr | $210K |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 3.10 / yr | $479K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $84K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 6.10 / yr | $95K |
| Lightning | Low | 6.73 / yr | $129K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.01 / yr | $282K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $431K |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $91K |
| Drought | Very Low | 1.28 / yr | $107 |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $21K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $3 |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $21 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Thurston County?
Thurston County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 94.5 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 94th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Thurston County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (High, $2M EAL), Earthquake (High, $134M EAL), Volcanic Activity (Medium, $195K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Thurston County compare to other Washington counties?
Thurston County ranks #5 of 39 Washington counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
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. Thurston County's $191M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.