FEMA rates relative cold wave risk for Yakima County as very high and reports FEMA annualized frequency of 0.169 per year for the area.
FEMA summary
FEMA's profile for Yakima County reports FEMA annualized frequency of 0.169 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.
Select a hazard to inspect FEMA's figures for Yakima County.
Cold Wave
FEMA combines its area-wide loss estimate and community data in this relative rating. Event frequency appears separately below.
Relative FEMA score
99.7/100
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 Yakima County. It is not an estimate for a home or address.
City risk summary
For Yakima, FEMA rates cold wave risk for Yakima County as very high, with a relative score of 99.7/100. The next highest relative scores are landslide at 98.6/100 and wildfire at 98.6/100.
Using FEMA data for Yakima County, Yakima is #1 among 18 covered Washington entries for cold wave risk. Kennewick is about 71 straight-line miles from the Yakima map point; its FEMA figures cover Benton County.
For homeowners and movers
Preparedness actions
Living in Yakima? Learn how to handle water storage, sanitation, and security in a small space.
The map shows Yakima. All FEMA figures on this page cover Yakima County.
The FEMA figures cover Yakima County. Address-level conditions require local maps, building records, and property details.
FEMA rates relative cold wave risk for Yakima County as very high. Its FEMA annualized frequency is 0.169 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, Yakima is #1 for relative cold wave risk based on FEMA's score for Yakima County. Homes within Yakima can have different soil, elevation, construction, and hazard-zone conditions.
In FEMA's data for Yakima County, the highest relative ratings are Cold Wave (Very High), Landslide (Very High), and Wildfire (Relatively High). FEMA uses estimated losses and community data along with event frequency when assigning these ratings.
The hazard numbers cover Yakima County. For an individual home, check local fault, flood, fire, evacuation, and building records for the exact address.
FEMA gives Yakima County an overall relative risk rating of relatively moderate. 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: 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.
Distances are measured between city coordinates.
| City | Distance | Cold Wave rating | Relative score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick, WA | 71 mi | Very High | 98.3 |
| Auburn, WA | 93 mi | Very Low | 28.2 |
| Kent, WA | 96 mi | Very Low | 28.2 |
| Federal Way, WA | 98 mi | Very Low | 28.2 |
| Renton, WA | 99 mi | Very Low | 28.2 |
Limited to products tagged for cold wave or general preparedness.
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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.