Natural Disasters in Kelso, WA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

90.3

Relatively Moderate

Expected Annual Loss

89.6

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

36.2

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

59.5

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Volcanic Activity99.7Earthquake97.5Heat Wave91.4

Hazard	Risk Score
Volcanic Activity	99.7
Earthquake	97.5
Heat Wave	91.4
Landslide	83.7
Cold Wave	78.6
Wildfire	61.3
Coastal Flood	51.0
Winter Weather	49.6
Strong Wind	38.2
Ice Storm	31.1
Avalanche	23.5
Lightning	22.8
Tornado	20.5
Hail	12.8

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

Most Recent

Severe Storm

Apr 2024

Most Common Type

Flood

10 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Apr 28, 2024	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Mar 29, 2022	Flood	SEVERE WINTER STORMS, SNOWSTORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODIN
Apr 8, 2021	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Mar 22, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Feb 2, 2016	Flood	SEVERE WINTER STORM, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, MUDSLIDES, AND A T
Mar 2, 2009	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM AND RECORD AND NEAR RECORD SNOW
Jan 30, 2009	Flood	SEVERE WINTER STORM, LANDSLIDES, MUDSLIDES, AND FLOODING
Dec 12, 2006	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Sep 7, 2005	Coastal Storm	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Mar 1, 2001	Earthquake	EARTHQUAKE
Oct 16, 1998	Mud/Landslide	WA LANDSLIDE 3/6/98
Jan 17, 1997	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS, LAND & MUDS SLIDES,FLOODING
Feb 9, 1996	Flood	HIGH WINDS, SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Jan 3, 1996	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, HIGH WIND, AND FLOODING
Dec 15, 1986	Flood	SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Mar 19, 1986	Flood	HEAVY RAINS, LANDSLIDES & FLOODING
May 21, 1980	Volcanic Eruption	VOLCANIC ERUPTION, MT. ST. HELENS
Dec 10, 1977	Flood	SEVERE STORMS,MUDSLIDES, & FLOODING
Dec 13, 1975	Flood	SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING

Showing 20 of 22 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

207

Total IA Distributed

$585,588

Repair/Replace

$400,745

Rental Assistance

$78,507

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-1734	1	N/A	—
DR-4562	1	N/A	—
DR-1817	147	$491,134	$9,274
DR-1671	39	$58,746	$1,940
DR-4481	5	$22,297	—
DR-4499	4	$11,395	—
DR-1733	10	$2,015	$324

Individual and household assistance for homeowners and renters affected by federally declared disasters.

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

681

Total Claims Paid

$14,778,949

Avg Claim Payout

$21,702

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$14,101,832

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

260

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4253	Flood	37	$3,347,936
DR-1817	Flood	114	$3,042,562
DR-4650	Severe Storm(s)	21	$3,022,803
DR-4481	Biological	21	$1,772,846
DR-4775	Severe Storm(s)	3	$1,198,433
DR-1671	Severe Storm(s)	24	$777,291
DR-1825	Severe Storm(s)	28	$507,536
DR-4593	Winter Storm	7	$416,371
DR-1361	Earthquake	4	$12,669
DR-1641	Severe Storm(s)	1	$3,385

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$3,803,558

Properties Protected

145

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

1.30

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	3	$1,233,720
601.2: Generators - Regular	2	$258,400
405.1: Other Minor Flood Control	1	$1,267,500
402.1: Infrastructure Protective Measures (Roads and Bridges)	1	$0
300.6: Vegetation Management - Erosion; 303.2: Floodplain and Stream Restoration	1	$0

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Kelso has a relatively moderate overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are volcanic activity, earthquake, heat wave. The area has had 22 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is flood (10 declarations). 681 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $14,101,832 in public assistance recovery funding. $585,588 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 13 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.