Washington natural disasters & FEMA declarations
WA · 4th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Washington has had 214 federally declared disasters since 1956, the 4th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Fire (146 declarations, about 68% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Upriver Fire" (Fire), on Jun 16, 2026. The largest recorded earthquake in or near Washington was magnitude 6.8.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Washington, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Fire | 146 | 68% |
| Flood | 35 | 16% |
| Severe Storm | 20 | 9% |
| Biological | 3 | 1% |
| Mud/Landslide | 3 | 1% |
| Earthquake | 2 | 1% |
| Coastal Storm | 1 | 0% |
| Severe Ice Storm | 1 | 0% |
| Fishing Losses | 1 | 0% |
| Volcanic Eruption | 1 | 0% |
| Drought | 1 | 0% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 136 |
| Major Disaster (DR) | 68 |
| Emergency (EM) | 10 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Washington's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 2 |
| 1960s | 4 |
| 1970s | 11 |
| 1980s | 11 |
| 1990s | 27 |
| 2000s | 43 |
| 2010s | 65 |
| 2020s | 51 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 16, 2026 | Upriver Fire | Fire | FM-5638-WA |
| Apr 7, 2026 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | DR-4906-WA |
| Dec 12, 2025 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | EM-3629-WA |
| Sep 26, 2025 | Lower Sugarloaf Fire | Fire | FM-5614-WA |
| Jul 19, 2025 | Burdoin Fire | Fire | FM-5601-WA |
| Nov 26, 2024 | Wildfires | Fire | DR-4849-WA |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Washington
The strongest magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes attributed to Washington in the USGS catalog (1900–present). Locations are matched from the USGS event description.
| Magnitude | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| M6.8 | Feb 28, 2001 | 7 km SSE of Longbranch, Washington |
Source: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Data as of June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Washington had?
Washington has had 214 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1956, the 4th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Washington?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Washington is "Fire", with 146 declarations — about 68% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Washington?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Washington in this snapshot was "Upriver Fire" (Fire), declared Jun 16, 2026.
What is the biggest earthquake recorded in Washington?
The largest earthquake in or near Washington in the USGS magnitude-6.0+ catalog is a magnitude 6.8 event on Feb 28, 2001 (7 km SSE of Longbranch, Washington).
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18