Natural Disasters in Port Townsend, WA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

64.4

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

54.9

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

85.5

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

64.9

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Landslide96.0Earthquake95.0Winter Weather81.9
HazardRisk Score
Landslide96.0
Earthquake95.0
Winter Weather81.9
Ice Storm73.5
Coastal Flood64.4
Avalanche58.2
Tsunami40.0
Heat Wave34.8
Cold Wave24.4
Wildfire23.5
Drought12.5
Volcanic Activity11.4
Tornado9.5
Lightning6.2
Strong Wind2.0
Hail1.6

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

29

Most Recent

Flood

Dec 2025

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

13 declarations

DateTypeDeclaration
Dec 12, 2025FloodSEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Apr 28, 2024Severe StormSEVERE WINTER STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Jan 12, 2023Severe StormSEVERE WINTER STORM, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Mar 29, 2022FloodSEVERE WINTER STORMS, SNOWSTORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODIN
Jan 5, 2022FloodSEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Apr 8, 2021Severe StormSEVERE WINTER STORM, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Mar 22, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19
Mar 4, 2019Severe StormSEVERE WINTER STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, MUDSLIDES, TORNADO
Feb 2, 2016FloodSEVERE WINTER STORM, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, MUDSLIDES, AND A T
Jan 15, 2016Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Oct 15, 2015Severe StormSEVERE WINDSTORM
Mar 2, 2009Severe StormSEVERE WINTER STORM AND RECORD AND NEAR RECORD SNOW
Jan 30, 2009FloodSEVERE WINTER STORM, LANDSLIDES, MUDSLIDES, AND FLOODING
Dec 8, 2007Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Dec 12, 2006Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
May 17, 2006Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, TIDAL SURGE, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Sep 7, 2005Coastal StormHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Nov 7, 2003Severe StormSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Mar 1, 2001EarthquakeEARTHQUAKE

Showing 20 of 29 declarations

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

53

Total Claims Paid

$623,025

Avg Claim Payout

$11,755

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$8,476,602

Disasters with PA

15

Total Projects

109

DisasterTypeProjectsFederal $
DR-4481Biological33$1,824,936
DR-4249Severe Storm(s)7$1,785,293
DR-1734Severe Storm(s)17$1,030,802
DR-4650Severe Storm(s)5$770,080
DR-4682Winter Storm5$765,076
DR-4418Winter Storm6$747,639
DR-4593Winter Storm9$495,729
DR-4635Mud/Landslide1$344,052
DR-4242Severe Storm(s)3$270,200
DR-1499Severe Storm(s)6$120,930
DR-1825Severe Storm(s)10$96,285
DR-1641Severe Storm(s)4$83,031
DR-4253Flood1$69,841
DR-1671Severe Storm(s)1$55,965
DR-1817Flood1$16,744

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

21

Federal Funding

$10,997,408

Properties Protected

10

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

2.36

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
205.6: Structural Retrofitting/Rehabilitating Public Structures - Seismic7$4,153,496
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan3$80,755
800.1: Miscellaneous2$2,175,000
94.1: Tribal Multihazard Mitigation Plan2$143,798
402.1: Infrastructure Protective Measures (Roads and Bridges)1$1,400,000

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

Port Townsend has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are landslide, earthquake, winter weather. The area has had 29 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (13 declarations). 53 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $8,476,602 in public assistance recovery funding. 21 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.