Adams County, WA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Adams County has experienced 10 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Lind Fire in 2022. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Adams County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, cold wave, and earthquake, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (98th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Adams County has been designated in 10 declarations since 1977, covering 7 disaster types including biological (2), flood (2), severe storm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Fire | Lind Fire |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Record And Near Record Snow |
| 2005 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Land & Muds Slides,Flooding |
| 1996 | Flood | High Winds, Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 1980 | Volcanic Eruption | Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. Helens |
| 1977 | Drought | Drought |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | 85.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 34.3 | 2 | 0 | $205K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 64.6 | 2 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 51.9 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 7.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 60.1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 18 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 13.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 20.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 64.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 6.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 20.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 32.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 43.3 | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Adams County ranks in the 98th percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 98th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 98th | High |
| Household characteristics | 75th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 95th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 96th | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 86th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 85th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 38.9% | — |
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Adams County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Adams County, Washington are wildfire, cold wave, and earthquake. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Adams County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Adams County has received 10 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2022. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Adams County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Adams County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Lind Fire in 2022.
How does Adams County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Grant County, WA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Columbia County, WA has the lowest (Very Low). Adams County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Adams County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Adams County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Adams County's composite score of 23 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 23% of US counties.