Grant County, WA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Grant County has experienced 12 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Baird Springs Fire in 2023. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Grant County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, cold wave, and earthquake, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (93rd 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. Grant County has been designated in 12 declarations since 1977, covering 7 disaster types including fire (4), biological (2), severe storm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Fire | Baird Springs Fire |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Fire | Grass Valley Fire |
| 2018 | Fire | Buckshot Fire |
| 2017 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides |
| 2012 | Fire | Barker Canyon Fire |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2005 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Land & Muds Slides,Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 12 total declarations since 1977.
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 Moderate | 95.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 77.2 | 4 | 0 | $151K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 89.2 | 6 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 87.1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 15.5 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 56.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 30.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 70 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 14 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 89.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 50.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 32.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 78.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 59.2 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 82.4 | — | — | — |
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
Grant County ranks in the 93rd 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 | 93rd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 83rd | High |
| Household characteristics | 89th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 87th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 93rd | 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 | 91st | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 90th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 35.4% | — |
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 Grant County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Grant County, Washington are wildfire, cold wave, and earthquake. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Grant County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Grant County has received 12 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2023. The most common disaster type on record is fire (4 declarations).
Has Grant County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Grant County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Baird Springs Fire in 2023.
How does Grant County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Kittitas County, WA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Adams County, WA has the lowest (Very Low). Grant County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Grant County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Grant 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. Grant County's composite score of 77 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 77% of US counties.