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Natural hazards · Renton

Renton, WA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Renton comes from earthquakes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 11 claims here since 1990. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is Renton?

83
Very high
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Renton to be higher than in 83% of U.S. communities, mostly from earthquakes and inland flooding.

Earthquakes74%Inland flooding24%Everything else2%
By hazard

What Renton faces

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

Earthquakes

74% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places

Inland flooding

24% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 63% of U.S. places
Recorded about once every 4 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 Renton flood?

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

11paid claims since 1990
$156Kpaid to owners
0homes flooded more than once
19902026

Biggest named events

  • 2025-12-AtmosphericRiver: 2 claims, $83K
  • Torrential rain: 1 claim, $6K
of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
🏷️ 25% off flood insurance. Renton is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: King County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

20flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters that hit Renton

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into RentonDeclared for King County only
2025

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

41 households applied for aid $199K aid approved
2020

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$1.0M to the City of Renton for repairs
2017

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides

$34K to the City of Renton for repairs
2012

Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$191K to the City of Renton for repairs
2009

Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding

18 households applied for aid $13K aid approved $1.9M to the City of Renton for repairs
2008

Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow

$93K to the City of Renton for repairs
2007

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

19 households applied for aid $23K aid approved $94K to the City of Renton for repairs
2006

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

13 households applied for aid $6K aid approved $30K to the City of Renton for repairs
2003

Severe Storms and Flooding

3 households applied for aid $3K aid approved
2001

Earthquake

$234K to the City of Renton for repairs
King County has had 30 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and severe storms.
Around Renton

Renton and the towns around it

Fairwood: Very high, mostly earthquakesEast Renton Highlands: Very high, mostly earthquakesBryn Mawr-Skyway: Very high, mostly earthquakesNewcastle: High, mostly avalanchesKent: Very high, mostly earthquakesTukwila: Very high, mostly earthquakesMercer Island: High, mostly earthquakesMaple Heights-Lake Desire: High, mostly earthquakesSeattle: High, mostly earthquakesMirrormont: Very high, mostly avalanchesHobart: Very high, mostly inland floodingBellevue: High, mostly earthquakesDes Moines: High, mostly earthquakesSeaTac: Very high, mostly earthquakesCovington: High, mostly earthquakesAuburn: Very high, mostly earthquakesLake Morton-Berrydale: High, mostly earthquakesMaple Valley: High, mostly inland floodingBurien: High, mostly earthquakesBoulevard Park: Very high, mostly earthquakesMedina: Moderate, mostly earthquakesBeaux Arts Village: High, mostly earthquakesBainbridge Island: High, mostly earthquakesKirkland: High, mostly earthquakesWhite Center: High, mostly earthquakesVashon: Very high, mostly earthquakesShoreline: High, mostly earthquakesKenmore: High, mostly earthquakesRenton: Very high, mostly earthquakes RentonFairwoodEast Renton HighlandsBryn Mawr-SkywayNewcastleKentTukwilaMercer IslandMaple Heights-Lake DesireSeattle
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
Tukwilamostly earthquakesVery high
Rentonmostly earthquakesVery high
Bryn Mawr-Skywaymostly earthquakesVery high
Kentmostly earthquakesVery high
Fairwoodmostly earthquakesVery high
East Renton Highlandsmostly earthquakesVery high
Maple Heights-Lake Desiremostly earthquakesHigh
Seattlemostly earthquakesHigh
Newcastlemostly avalanchesHigh
Mercer Islandmostly 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. Renton covers 23 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Renton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Renton. 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 Renton total about $71.8M 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.

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