Jefferson County
Washington — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 64th
Jefferson County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 64.4, 64th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $17M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 17.00 / yr | $123K |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $10M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 15.96 / yr | $162K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.19 / yr | $189K |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.38 / yr | $515K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $888 |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.14 / yr | $5M |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $287K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 1.40 / yr | $124K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.03 / yr | $220K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $7K |
| Drought | Very Low | 1.30 / yr | $2 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $41K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 3.99 / yr | $14K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $6K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $1K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Jefferson County?
Jefferson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 64.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 64th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Jefferson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $123K EAL), Earthquake (Medium, $10M EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $162K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Jefferson County compare to other Washington counties?
Jefferson County ranks #26 of 39 Washington counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low 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. Jefferson County's $17M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.