Yakima County, Washington Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · WA
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 94th
Yakima County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 94.0, 94th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $120M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Yakima County at medium composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 94.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 94th 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 wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at High risk — $19M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at High risk — $656K in expected annual loss and about 4.51 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at High risk — $18M in expected annual loss and about 0.36 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $120M in expected annual loss for a population of 256K.
Beyond physical exposure, Yakima County has a 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.
History supports the rating: Yakima County has received 36 federal disaster declarations since 1964, including 17 for fire events and 10 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, Yakima County ranks #6 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | High | 0.01 / yr | $19M |
| Landslide | High | 4.51 / yr | $656K |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.36 / yr | $18M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $29M |
| Avalanche | Very High | 0.13 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 4.76 / yr | $4M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.50 / yr | $44M |
| Hail | Medium | 0.09 / yr | $2M |
| Volcanic Activity | Low | 0.01 / yr | $8K |
| Winter Weather | High | 18.15 / yr | $233K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.12 / yr | $790K |
| Lightning | Medium | 7.64 / yr | $366K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.07 / yr | $80K |
| Drought | Low | 23.53 / yr | $37K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $181K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Yakima County has received 36 federal disaster declarations since 1964, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2026. Most frequent causes: Fire (17), Flood (10), Severe Storm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| December 2025 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| July 2024 | Fire | Retreat Fire |
| July 2024 | Fire | West White Swan Fire |
| June 2024 | Fire | Slide Ranch Fire |
| August 2021 | Fire | Schneider Springs Fire |
| February 2021 | Fire | Wildfires and Straight-Line Winds |
| September 2020 | Fire | Evans Canyon Fire |
| August 2020 | Fire | North Brownstown Fire |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
Showing the 10 most recent of 36 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Yakima County?
Yakima County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 94.0 out of 100, placing it in the Medium 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 Yakima County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (High, $19M EAL), Landslide (High, $656K EAL), Cold Wave (High, $18M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Yakima County compare to other Washington counties?
Yakima County ranks #6 of 39 Washington counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Yakima County had?
FEMA records 36 federal disaster declarations for Yakima County since 1964, most often 17 for fire events and 10 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. Yakima County's $120M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.