Natural hazards · Milton

Milton, WA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Milton comes from earthquakes, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1986. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Milton?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Milton to be higher than in 75% of U.S. communities, mostly from earthquakes.

Earthquakes82%Inland flooding13%Everything else5%

By hazard

What Milton faces

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

Earthquakes

82% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places

Inland flooding

13% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 12% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 9 years in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningDroughtVolcanic activity

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesCold wavesAvalanchesTsunamis

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 Milton flood?

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

6paid claims since 1986

$92Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19862026

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Pierce County.

Disasters that hit Milton

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into MiltonDeclared for Pierce County only

2009

Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding

2 households applied for aid $3K aid approved $6K to the City of Milton for repairs

2008

Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow

$7K to the City of Milton for repairs

2006

Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides

$11K to the City of Milton for repairs

2006

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

1 household applied for aid $27K to the City of Milton for repairs

2003

Severe Storms and Flooding

3 households applied for aid $1K aid approved

Pierce County has had 22 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and severe storms.

Around Milton

Milton and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Fife Heightsmostly earthquakesVery high

Fifemostly earthquakesVery high

Miltonmostly earthquakesHigh

Edgewoodmostly earthquakesHigh

Lakeland Southmostly earthquakesHigh

Federal Waymostly earthquakesHigh

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. Milton covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Milton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Milton. 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 Milton total about $3.9M 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.