FEMA Records
24
Total declarations
Washington · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Chelan County, WA
24 FEMA disaster declarations (2012–2026), with a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate. Most common hazard: Fire.
- 24
- FEMA declarations
- 3
- Major disasters
- 91
- NRI risk · Relatively Moderate
- Fire
- Top hazard
The verdict
Chelan County ranks in the riskiest 9% of U.S. counties for FEMA-modeled hazard risk, with more federally declared disasters than 99% of the 2,791 counties FEMA tracks. FEMA rates the county's overall risk as Relatively Moderate, based on 24 federal disaster declarations recorded since 2012, most often fire, 524% above the national county average of 4.
- Riskiest 9%
- of U.S. counties for FEMA National Risk Index score
- Relatively Moderate
- FEMA National Risk Index rating
- 24
- FEMA declarations vs 4 national county avg
- 20
- fire declarations, the most common hazard here
FEMA's National Risk Index score reflects expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience; the declaration count above reflects only Presidentially declared disasters, not every hazard event.
How does Chelan County compare?
Chelan County vs. every U.S. county
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time
24 Top 1% higher than 99% of 2,791 counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 · 2026-07-25
Chelan County's FEMA Risk Index score
FEMA National Risk Index composite score vs. the Washington county average
How disaster-prone is Chelan County?
Declaration frequency
Chelan County, Washington has recorded 24 FEMA disaster declarations between 2012 and 2026, of which 3 were classified as Major Disaster declarations (DR) requiring federal individual and public assistance. That puts the county's average at 1.7 declarations per year across a 14-year record, or roughly 273% above the Washington county average of 6.4 and 524% above the national county average of 3.8. The dominant disaster type on record is Fire, with 20 of 24 declarations falling under this category.
FEMA National Risk Index
This county sits among the highest-risk counties nationally on FEMA's National Risk Index, a composite score of 90.9/100 (Relatively Moderate). Expected Annual Loss is rated Relatively Moderate (roughly $88.5M in annualized losses). Social vulnerability reads Relatively Moderate and community resilience Relatively High, both critical modifiers of realized harm here. Of the 18 hazards FEMA models, Wildfire stands out as the sharpest exposure here, rated Relatively High.
Flood exposure & the bottom line
Taken together, these indicators place Chelan County at a high relative risk level, its federal disaster history outpaces most of the country, and it is worth pairing that record with forward-looking hazard maps before making insurance or relocation decisions.
Risk Assessment
Risk Level
High
vs. Washington Avg
+273%
State avg: 6.4
vs. National Avg
+524%
National avg: 3.8
Avg Per Year
1.7
Over 14 years
FEMA NRI 8-hazard radar - Chelan County
How to read this radar
The radar plots Chelan County's relative exposure to the eight headline natural hazards used by the FEMA National Risk Index. Each axis is the qualitative NRI risk rating (Very Low through Very High) re-expressed on a 0-100 scale so that the polygon shape lets you compare a county against another at a glance. A rounder polygon means broad multi-hazard exposure; a spiky polygon means one or two dominant hazards drive most of the modeled risk.
NRI Source
FEMA 2023
Latest NRI release
County FIPS
53007
WA state code
Source: FEMA National Risk Index FEMA National Risk Index Per-county per-hazard ratings, 2023 release
Disaster Types
Fire 20
Flood 3
Biological 1
Declaration Types
What DR / EM / FM mean
FEMA categorizes declarations as Major Disasters (DR), Emergencies (EM), or Fire Management Assistance (FM).
Fire Management - 20 83.3%
of all 24 declarations
Major Disaster - 3 12.5%
of all 24 declarations
Emergency - 1 4.2%
of all 24 declarations
FEMA Declarations Timeline
| Year | Declarations | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | |
| 2025 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 1 | |
| 2021 | 2 | |
| 2020 | 2 | |
| 2018 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 2 | |
| 2014 | 3 | |
| 2013 | 3 | |
| 2012 | 5 | |
Disaster Declarations
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4906 | SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES | DR | Flood | 2026-04-07 |
| 3629 | SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES | EM | Flood | 2025-12-12 |
| 5614 | LOWER SUGARLOAF FIRE | FM | Fire | 2025-09-26 |
| 4650 | SEVERE WINTER STORMS, SNOWSTORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODIN | DR | Flood | 2022-03-29 |
| 5414 | TWENTYFIVE MILE FIRE | FM | Fire | 2021-08-18 |
| 5398 | RED APPLE FIRE | FM | Fire | 2021-07-14 |
| 5352 | APPLE ACRES FIRE | FM | Fire | 2020-09-07 |
| 4481 | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR | Biological | 2020-03-22 |
| 5270 | COUGAR CREEK FIRE | FM | Fire | 2018-08-11 |
| 5182 | SPROMBERG FIRE | FM | Fire | 2017-05-23 |
| 5152 | SUNCREST FIRE | FM | Fire | 2016-08-28 |
| 5100 | CHELAN FIRE COMPLEX | FM | Fire | 2015-08-14 |
| 5087 | SLEEPY HOLLOW FIRE | FM | Fire | 2015-06-29 |
| 5072 | HANSEL FIRE | FM | Fire | 2014-08-06 |
| 5061 | CHIWAUKUM FIRE | FM | Fire | 2014-07-17 |
| 5059 | MILLS CANYON FIRE | FM | Fire | 2014-07-10 |
| 5048 | EAGLE FIRE | FM | Fire | 2013-08-21 |
| 5042 | MILE POST 10 FIRE | FM | Fire | 2013-08-10 |
| 5038 | COLOCKUM TARPS FIRE | FM | Fire | 2013-07-30 |
| 5020 | TABLE MOUNTAIN FIRE | FM | Fire | 2012-09-20 |
| 5018 | PEAVINE FIRE | FM | Fire | 2012-09-13 |
| 5017 | POISON FIRE | FM | Fire | 2012-09-12 |
| 5015 | BYRD CANYON FIRE | FM | Fire | 2012-09-10 |
| 5012 | 1ST CANYON FIRE | FM | Fire | 2012-09-09 |
Storm Events in Washington
| Storm Type | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Snow | 1,874 | 5 | 13 | $2.4M |
| High Wind | 686 | 15 | 6 | $1.1B |
| Wildfire | 357 | 4 | 5 | $2.7B |
| Winter Weather | 319 | 12 | 62 | $1.3M |
| Flood | 281 | 6 | 0 | $396.2M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database NOAA Storm Events Database State-level aggregated data, 2015–2025
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Score: 90.9/100
Expected Annual Loss
Relatively Moderate
$88.5M/year
Social Vulnerability
Relatively Moderate
Community Resilience
Relatively High
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Wildfire Relatively High
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Avalanche Very High
Volcanic Activity Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Very Low
Drought Very Low
Strong Wind Very Low
Tornado Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) Ratings reflect relative scores among all US counties. Data: hazards.fema.gov/nri
Counties with Similar Risk in Washington
Disaster Preparedness Guides
Related
Frequently Asked Questions
How many natural disasters has Chelan County, Washington had?
Chelan County, Washington has received 24 FEMA disaster declarations from 2012 to 2026. Of these, 3 were major disaster declarations.
What is the most common disaster type in Chelan County?
The most common disaster type in Chelan County is Fire, with 20 declarations. Other disaster types include Flood (3), Biological (1).
How does Chelan County's disaster risk compare to the Washington average?
Chelan County has 24 disaster declarations, which is 273% higher than the Washington county average of 6.4 declarations. Compared to the national county average of 3.8, it is 524% higher.
How many major FEMA disaster declarations has Chelan County received?
Chelan County has received 3 major disaster declarations, representing 13% of all 24 disaster declarations. Major disaster declarations typically involve significant damage requiring federal assistance.
What types of storms are most common in Washington?
The most common storm types in Washington include Heavy Snow (1,874 events), High Wind (686 events), Wildfire (357 events). NOAA storm event data covers severe weather from 2015 to 2025.
What was the worst year for disasters in Chelan County?
The most active year for disaster declarations in Chelan County was 2012, with 5 declarations. The county has FEMA disaster data spanning 2012 to 2026.
What is the overall disaster risk level for Chelan County?
Chelan County has recorded 24 FEMA disaster declarations, a volume FEMA data classifies as high-risk, well above what most U.S. counties see over the same period.
What is the FEMA National Risk Index score for Chelan County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Chelan County, Washington has an overall risk score of 90.9 out of 100 (Relatively Moderate). The county's social vulnerability rating is Relatively Moderate and community resilience is Relatively High. The Expected Annual Loss (EAL) score is Relatively Moderate, representing $88.5M in annualized losses.
Which natural hazard poses the greatest risk to Chelan County?
Based on FEMA NRI data, the highest-risk natural hazard in Chelan County is Wildfire (risk rating: Relatively High). Other significant hazards include Landslide (Relatively Moderate) and Avalanche (Very High). These scores are based on FEMA's analysis of historical event frequency, exposed assets, and community vulnerability.
Data Sources & Methodology
Disaster declaration data comes from the FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 API, which includes all federally declared disasters, emergencies, and fire management assistance grants.
Storm event data is sourced from the NOAA Storm Events Database (2015–2025), which tracks significant weather events including thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, and winter storms.
This data is provided for informational purposes only. FEMA disaster declarations represent federal response actions and may not capture all local emergencies or weather events.
What this means for Chelan County
Chelan County, WA runs 273% above the Washington county average for federal disaster declarations (24 vs 6), a high historical load overall.
- Its most common federal declaration type is fire management (20 of 24) - know the hazards most likely here before they happen. Washington overview
- See how this county ranks against the rest of the country for disaster frequency. Most-disaster rankings
- Read how to read FEMA declarations, NRI risk scores, and what they do and don't tell you. Disaster-data guide
Historical declaration counts describe past federal response, not a forecast. For current threats, follow the National Weather Service and local officials; in an emergency call 911.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, this profile draws on 2,791 tracked U.S. counties in FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries dataset, refreshed as of 2026-07-25. Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FEMA OpenFEMA, Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 - all federally-declared disasters for this county. fema.gov/openfema/disaster-declarations
- FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) - per-county per-hazard risk ratings and expected annual loss. hazards.fema.gov/nri
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database - state-level storm/severe-weather event records, 2015–2025. ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainHazard Editorial
Verify with FEMA → · Verify with FEMA NRI → · Verify with NOAA →
Every figure on PlainHazard is rendered directly from FEMA federal disaster data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on FEMA federal disaster data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or national statistics report, or report a data error.