Natural hazards · Bothell

Bothell, WA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Bothell comes from earthquakes, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1978. 11 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Bothell?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Bothell to be higher than in 68% of U.S. communities, mostly from earthquakes and inland flooding.

Earthquakes67%Inland flooding30%Everything else3%

By hazard

What Bothell faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Earthquakes

67% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 91% of U.S. places

Inland flooding

30% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 39% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningVolcanic activity

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesCold wavesDroughtAvalanchesTsunamis

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Bothell flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bothell, from FEMA’s records.

6paid claims since 1978

$30Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19782026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Bothell isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: King County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

3flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

1homes raised above flood level

Disasters that hit Bothell

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Bothell itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Bothell.

Brought FEMA money into BothellDeclared for King County only

2025

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

7 households applied for aid $1K aid approved

2020

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$18K to the City of Bothell for repairs

2017

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides

$35K to the City of Bothell for repairs

2012

Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$94K to the City of Bothell for repairs

2009

Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding

3 households applied for aid $3K aid approved

2008

Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow

$109K to the City of Bothell for repairs

2007

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

30 households applied for aid $54K aid approved $111K to the City of Bothell for repairs

2006

Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides

$64K to the City of Bothell for repairs

2006

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

12 households applied for aid $3K aid approved

2003

Severe Storms and Flooding

2 households applied for aid $5K aid approved

2001

Earthquake

$450 to the City of Bothell for repairs

King County has had 30 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and severe storms.

Around Bothell

Bothell and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Woodinvillemostly earthquakesHigh

Kenmoremostly earthquakesHigh

Kirklandmostly earthquakesHigh

Bothellmostly earthquakesHigh

Bothell Westmostly earthquakesHigh

Maltbymostly earthquakesHigh

Bothell Eastmostly earthquakesModerate

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Bothell covers 10 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Bothell’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Bothell. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Bothell total about $28.6M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.