Natural hazards · Steilacoom

Steilacoom, WA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Steilacoom comes from earthquakes, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2003. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Steilacoom?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Steilacoom to be higher than in 67% of U.S. communities, mostly from earthquakes and inland flooding.

Earthquakes68%Inland flooding27%Everything else5%

By hazard

What Steilacoom faces

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

Earthquakes

68% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. places

Inland flooding

27% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 44% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 9 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 Steilacoom flood?

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

3paid claims since 2003

$20Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20032026

Biggest named events

Torrential rain: 1 claim, $10K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Steilacoom 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 Steilacoom

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into SteilacoomDeclared for Pierce County only

2025

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

1 household applied for aid

2012

Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$15K to the Town of Steilacoom for repairs

2009

Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding

1 household applied for aid $2K to the Town of Steilacoom for repairs

2008

Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow

$14K to the Town of Steilacoom for repairs

2006

Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides

$12K to the Town of Steilacoom for repairs

2006

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

4 households applied for aid $10K to the Town of Steilacoom for repairs

2001

Earthquake

$21K to the Town of Steilacoom for repairs

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

Around Steilacoom

Steilacoom and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Lakewoodmostly earthquakesHigh

Steilacoommostly earthquakesHigh

University Placemostly 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. Steilacoom covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Steilacoom’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Steilacoom. 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 Steilacoom total about $1.0M 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.