riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Douglas County Disaster Risk

Douglas County, Washington

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

74th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#23

of 39 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

82th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 82% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively High

Higher than 95% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 7% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 82% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Douglas County

Risk Verdict

Douglas County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 74th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Douglas County, scoring in the 95th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 82th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (82th), tornado (7th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Douglas County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as flood also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Douglas County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Washington. Its composite risk score is within 4.1 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of Washington as a whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Douglas County, WA?
Douglas County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 74th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Douglas County?
Douglas County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (95th percentile), flooding (82th percentile), earthquake (82th percentile), tornado (7th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 95th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Douglas County risk compare to the Washington average?
Douglas County's composite risk percentile is 74th, compared to the Washington state average of 70th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Douglas County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Washington.
Is Douglas County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Douglas County's wildfire risk is at the 95th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Douglas County is at the 82th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Why is Douglas County higher risk than average?
Douglas County's composite risk score of 74th percentile is above the Washington state average of 70th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (95th percentile), along with flooding and earthquake risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Klickitat County

Washington

-0.2

Relatively Low

74th percentile

Franklin County

Washington

-1.6

Relatively Low

72th percentile

Grant County

Washington

+2.9

Relatively Low

77th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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