Spokane County hazard data

Spokane, WA Disaster Risk

FEMA rates relative cold wave risk for Spokane County as very high and reports FEMA annualized frequency of 0.289 per year for the area.

Tied #2 of 18 covered Washington cities for cold wave risk β†’FEMA relative score 99.1/100 Β· county scale

FEMA summary

Spokane's cold wave risk is very high at county scale.

FEMA's profile for Spokane County reports FEMA annualized frequency of 0.289 per year for cold wave. FEMA's relative risk rating for the area is very 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.

FEMA annualized frequency

0.289 per year

View hazard details ↓
FEMA area population
538,806
Data geography
County equivalent
FEMA relative score
99.1/100
FEMA source
v1.19.0

Explore hazards

Select a hazard to inspect FEMA's figures for Spokane County.

FEMA NRI profile

Cold Wave

Very High

FEMA combines its area-wide loss estimate and community data in this relative rating. Event frequency appears separately below.

Relative FEMA score

99.1/100

FEMA annualized frequency
0.289 per year
FEMA area loss estimate
$3M
Recorded events
4.666563935206439

How to read this

Occurrence thresholds vary by hazard. The FEMA methodology defines the value for each hazard.

The area loss estimate combines FEMA's modeled losses to buildings, population, and agriculture across Spokane County. It is not an estimate for a home or address.

City risk summary

Cold wave risk in Spokane

For Spokane, FEMA rates cold wave risk for Spokane County as very high, with a relative score of 99.1/100. The next highest relative scores are heat wave at 96.5/100 and wildfire at 94.7/100.

Using FEMA data for Spokane County, Spokane is tied #2 among 18 covered Washington entries for cold wave risk; 2 entries share that score. Spokane Valley is about 9.2 straight-line miles from the Spokane map point and uses the same FEMA geography.

What to check for cold wave

  • βœ“Check the heating system, insulation, and pipe protection at the property.
  • βœ“Choose a safe backup heat source and install the required alarms.
  • βœ“Plan where the household can stay during a prolonged heat or power outage.

Household preparation

Official guidance β†—

For homeowners and movers

  • βœ“Confirm the exact hazard using official local maps before making property or insurance decisions.
  • βœ“Review policy exclusions, deductibles, and temporary-living coverage with a licensed professional.
  • βœ“Keep inspections, inventories, and critical documents in a secure location you can access after an emergency.

Preparedness actions

  • βœ“Know how local officials issue warnings and evacuation instructions.
  • βœ“Maintain water, food, lighting, medications, and communications for several days.
  • βœ“Create a household communication plan and practice it before an emergency.
Build your household checklist
Brownstone apartment buildings
Urban Survival

The Apartment Fortress

Living in Spokane? Learn how to handle water storage, sanitation, and security in a small space.

Read the Guide β†’

Where this profile applies

The map shows Spokane. All FEMA figures on this page cover Spokane County.

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City
Spokane, WA
FEMA data area
Spokane County
County FIPS
53063

Questions about disaster risk in Spokane

The FEMA figures cover Spokane County. Address-level conditions require local maps, building records, and property details.

How much cold wave risk does Spokane, WA have?

FEMA rates relative cold wave risk for Spokane County as very high. Its FEMA annualized frequency is 0.289 per year. Damage at a specific address also depends on the building, soil, elevation, and exact hazard zone.

Where does Spokane rank for cold wave risk in Washington?

Among 18 Washington cities covered by this directory, Spokane is Tied #2 for relative cold wave risk based on FEMA's score for Spokane County. 2 covered cities share this rank because they use the same FEMA geography. Homes within Spokane can have different soil, elevation, construction, and hazard-zone conditions.

Which natural hazards rank highest around Spokane?

In FEMA's data for Spokane County, the highest relative ratings are Cold Wave (Very High), Heat Wave (Relatively High), and Wildfire (Relatively Moderate). FEMA uses estimated losses and community data along with event frequency when assigning these ratings.

Are the disaster-risk numbers for Spokane or Spokane County?

The hazard numbers cover Spokane County. For an individual home, check local fault, flood, fire, evacuation, and building records for the exact address.

Is Spokane safe from natural disasters?

FEMA gives Spokane County an overall relative risk rating of relatively low. Conditions at a specific home depend on its hazard zones, building type, maintenance, insurance, and access to evacuation routes and emergency services.

What should a household in Spokane do first for cold wave preparedness?

Start with this step: Confirm the exact hazard using official local maps before making property or insurance decisions. Know how local officials issue warnings and evacuation instructions. Use Ready.gov Be Informed and local emergency guidance for a complete plan.

Nearby city comparisons

Distances are measured between city coordinates.

CityDistanceCold Wave ratingRelative score
Spokane Valley, WA9 miVery High99.1
Coeur d'Alene, ID30 miVery High99.5

Relevant preparedness gear

Limited to products tagged for cold wave or general preparedness.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site may earn from qualifying purchases.

Leatherman Wave+ Multi-Tool

Tools

Leatherman Wave+ Multi-Tool

18 tools in one. Essential for turning off gas valves or making repairs.

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Anker PowerCore 10K

Power

Anker PowerCore 10K

Pocket-sized power to keep your phone alive for emergency calls.

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ARCA PET Cat & Dog First Aid Kit

Pets

ARCA PET Cat & Dog First Aid Kit

Comprehensive kit for pets. Includes muzzle, thermometer, and bandages.

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Data sources

Hazard 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.