Natural Disasters in Pullman, WA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

39.8

Very Low

Expected Annual Loss

49.1

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

20.8

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

50.6

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Landslide91.7Wildfire68.3Cold Wave68.2

Hazard	Risk Score
Landslide	91.7
Wildfire	68.3
Cold Wave	68.2
Heat Wave	60.8
Earthquake	55.1
Avalanche	46.2
Hail	39.6
Ice Storm	39.5
Winter Weather	27.5
Drought	20.0
Strong Wind	19.4
Tornado	10.4
Lightning	7.5

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

Fire

Feb 2024

Most Common Type

Flood

6 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Feb 15, 2024	Fire	WILDFIRES
Feb 4, 2021	Fire	WILDFIRES AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS
Sep 8, 2020	Fire	BABB FIRE
Mar 22, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Jan 15, 2016	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Mar 2, 2009	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM AND RECORD AND NEAR RECORD SNOW
Sep 7, 2005	Coastal Storm	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Jan 17, 1997	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS, LAND & MUDS SLIDES,FLOODING
Feb 9, 1996	Flood	HIGH WINDS, SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Nov 13, 1991	Fire	FIRES
Apr 14, 1989	Flood	HEAVY RAINS, FLOODING & MUDSLIDES
May 21, 1980	Volcanic Eruption	VOLCANIC ERUPTION, MT. ST. HELENS
Dec 10, 1977	Flood	SEVERE STORMS,MUDSLIDES, & FLOODING
Mar 31, 1977	Drought	DROUGHT
Jan 25, 1974	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, SNOWMELT & FLOODING
Feb 1, 1972	Flood	SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Dec 29, 1964	Flood	HEAVY RAINS & FLOODING

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

Total IA Distributed

$47,580

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-4481	13	$47,580	—

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

Total Claims Paid

$660,653

Avg Claim Payout

$11,391

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$9,543,859

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4584	Wildfire	11	$7,839,852
DR-4481	Biological	4	$993,951
DR-4249	Severe Storm(s)	5	$341,126
DR-4759	Wildfire	4	$203,257
DR-1825	Severe Storm(s)	23	$165,674

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$715,003

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.84

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan	3	$526,441
405.1: Other Minor Flood Control	2	$87,785
91.5: Local Multijurisdictional Multihazard Mitigation Plan - UPDATE	1	$48,750
403.1: Stormwater Management - Culverts	1	$12,269
601.2: Generators - Regular	1	$39,758

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

Pullman has a very low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are landslide, wildfire, cold wave. The area has had 18 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is flood (6 declarations). 58 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $9,543,859 in public assistance recovery funding. $47,580 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 8 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.