FEMA rates relative earthquake risk for Thurston County as relatively high and reports modeled annual probability of 0.74% per year for the area.
FEMA summary
FEMA's profile for Thurston County reports modeled annual probability of 0.74% per year for earthquake. FEMA's relative risk rating for the area is relatively high; the annualized frequency is a separate measure.
Hazard metrics cover FEMA county-equivalent geographies rather than individual addresses or parcels. Use local or state hazard maps before making a property, insurance, retrofit, or evacuation decision.
Select a hazard to inspect FEMA's figures for Thurston County.
Earthquake
FEMA combines its area-wide loss estimate and community data in this relative rating. Event frequency appears separately below.
Relative FEMA score
98.9/100
FEMA models earthquake annualized frequency as the probability of a qualifying occurrence in a given year across the FEMA geography shown.
The area loss estimate combines FEMA's modeled losses to buildings, population, and agriculture across Thurston County. It is not an estimate for a home or address.
City risk summary
For Olympia, FEMA rates earthquake risk for Thurston County as relatively high, with a relative score of 98.9/100. The next highest relative scores are volcanic activity at 95.5/100 and landslide at 94.4/100.
Using FEMA data for Thurston County, Olympia is #11 among 18 covered Washington entries for earthquake risk. Tacoma is about 25 straight-line miles from the Olympia map point; its FEMA figures cover Pierce County.
For homeowners and movers
Preparedness actions
Living in Olympia? Learn how to handle water storage, sanitation, and security in a small space.
The map shows Olympia. All FEMA figures on this page cover Thurston County.
The FEMA figures cover Thurston County. Address-level conditions require local maps, building records, and property details.
FEMA rates relative earthquake risk for Thurston County as relatively high. Its modeled annual probability is 0.74% per year. Damage at a specific address also depends on the building, soil, elevation, and exact hazard zone.
Among 18 Washington cities covered by this directory, Olympia is #11 for relative earthquake risk based on FEMA's score for Thurston County. Homes within Olympia can have different soil, elevation, construction, and hazard-zone conditions.
In FEMA's data for Thurston County, the highest relative ratings are Earthquake (Relatively High), Volcanic Activity (Relatively High), and Landslide (Relatively Moderate). FEMA uses estimated losses and community data along with event frequency when assigning these ratings.
The hazard numbers cover Thurston County. For an individual home, check local fault, flood, fire, evacuation, and building records for the exact address.
FEMA gives Thurston County an overall relative risk rating of relatively high. Conditions at a specific home depend on its hazard zones, building type, maintenance, insurance, and access to evacuation routes and emergency services.
Start with this step: Check whether your home has an unbraced cripple wall, an unbolted foundation, or an unsecured water heater; use a qualified local professional for retrofit decisions. Secure tall furniture and heavy objects that could fall where people sleep or sit. Use Ready.gov Earthquakes and local emergency guidance for a complete plan.
Distances are measured between city coordinates.
| City | Distance | Earthquake rating | Relative score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma, WA | 25 mi | Relatively High | 99.5 |
| Federal Way, WA | 32 mi | Very High | 99.8 |
| Bremerton, WA | 36 mi | Relatively High | 98.6 |
| Auburn, WA | 37 mi | Very High | 99.8 |
| Kent, WA | 40 mi | Very High | 99.8 |
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View productHazard metrics come from FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 (March 2023). City population and coordinates come from SimpleMaps US Cities Database. For current conditions, use official local maps, warnings, inspections, and professional advice.