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Washington County, Rhode Island
Recorded hazard history: storm events since 1950, federal disaster declarations since 1953, flood insurance claims since 1978, and FEMA's risk index.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. NCEI storm records through 30 Jun 2026; OpenFEMA declarations refreshed 1 Oct 2026; NFIP claims as of 8 Sep 2026.
The NCEI record lists 369 events for Washington County, Rhode Island, between 1950 and 2026; damaging wind account for the largest share.
That is 112.1 events per 100 square miles, below the Rhode Island figure of 240.3, and 28.3 per 10,000 residents against 22.7 statewide.
3 events fall in the 12 months to 30 Jun 2026. NCEI attributes 1 death and 3 injuries to events in the county, with property damage estimated at $33M.
FEMA has designated the county in 25 federal disaster declarations since 1953; the most recent is Severe Storms And Flooding (major disaster, 20 Mar 2024).
National Flood Insurance Program policyholders in the county filed 2,399 claims since 1978, of which 1,766 were paid, totalling $52M (about $29K per paid claim). FEMA counts 3,354 residential flood policies in force.
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall risk as "Relatively Low" and its expected annual loss as "Relatively Low" ($32M a year across 18 hazards).
70 tropical storm or hurricane tracks in the HURDAT2 record passed within 100 miles of the county's centre at tropical-storm strength or more, 7 of them within 50 miles at hurricane strength.
Compared with Rhode Island and the United States
| Measure | Washington County | Rhode Island | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded events since 1950 | 369 | 2,484 | 1,977,440 |
| Events per 100 square miles | 112.1 | 240.3 | 56.0 |
| Events per 10,000 residents | 28.3 | 22.7 | 59.6 |
| Events in the last 12 months | 3 | 40 | 62,008 |
| Deaths recorded by NCEI | 1 | 11 | 26,435 |
| Property damage (NCEI estimates) | $33M | $135M | $575B |
| NFIP claims per 1,000 residents | 18.4 | 6.4 | 8.1 |
| Average paid NFIP claim | $29K | $28K | $43K |
| Claims per 100 policies in force, last 10 years | 2.7 | 6.4 | 16.1 |
County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county. State and US rows include events recorded only by forecast zone. Rates use 2021 Census population and land area.
Events by decade
Trend: 229 events in the 20 years to 2025 against 134 in the 20 years before. Reporting practice changed in 1996 and again with automated reports in the 2000s, so decade totals measure the record as much as the weather.
Events by type
Hazard pages exist for hail, tornado, flood, wind and winter where the county has at least 10 recorded events. "Other" covers heavy rain, debris flow, dust, funnel clouds and similar reports.
Largest recorded events
| Date | Event type | Group | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Aug 2004 | Lightning | Lightning | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | County |
| 29 Mar 2010 | Flood | Flood | — | $25M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 29 Oct 2012 | High Wind | Wind | 86 mph | $75K | — | — | 1 | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 2012 | Coastal Flood | Flood | — | $4.7M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Aug 2021 | Tropical Storm | Tropical | — | $1.0M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Aug 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 60 mph | $750K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Feb 1998 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $400K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 1997 | Heavy Snow | Winter | — | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Oct 2005 | Flood | Flood | — | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Oct 2005 | Flood | Flood | — | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Ranked by deaths, then injuries, then NCEI's damage estimate. Deaths and injuries are NCEI counts (direct plus indirect); no personal details are recorded here.
Federal disaster declarations
| Declared | Number | Type | Incident | Title | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Mar 2024 | DR-4766 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 20 Mar 2024 | DR-4765 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storm And Flooding | Individual assistance |
| 14 Apr 2023 | FM-5464 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Queens River Fire | Public assistance |
| 12 May 2022 | DR-4653 | Major disaster | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Public assistance |
| 21 Aug 2021 | EM-3563 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Henri | Public assistance |
| 30 Mar 2020 | DR-4505 | Major disaster | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 13 Mar 2020 | EM-3440 | Emergency | Biological | Covid-19 | Public assistance |
| 3 Apr 2015 | DR-4212 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Public assistance |
| 22 Mar 2013 | DR-4107 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Public assistance |
| 3 Nov 2012 | DR-4089 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 29 Oct 2012 | EM-3355 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy | Public assistance |
| 3 Sep 2011 | DR-4027 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Irene | Public assistance |
| 27 Aug 2011 | EM-3334 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene | Public assistance |
| 30 Mar 2010 | EM-3311 | Emergency | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding | Public assistance |
| 29 Mar 2010 | DR-1894 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 19 Sep 2005 | EM-3255 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Public assistance |
| 17 Feb 2005 | EM-3203 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Record Snow | Public assistance |
| 27 Mar 2003 | EM-3182 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Snow | Public assistance |
| 24 Jan 1996 | DR-1091 | Major disaster | Snowstorm | Blizzard Of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) | Public assistance |
| 16 Mar 1993 | EM-3102 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Blizzards, High Winds & Record Snowfall | Public assistance |
| 16 Sep 1992 | EM-3094 | Emergency | Toxic Substances | Water Contamination | Public assistance |
| 26 Aug 1991 | DR-913 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Bob | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 15 Oct 1985 | DR-748 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Gloria | Public assistance |
| 16 Feb 1978 | DR-548 | Major disaster | Snowstorm | Snow & Ice | Individual assistance |
| 7 Feb 1978 | EM-3058 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Blizzard & Snowstorms | Public assistance |
Declarations in which FEMA designated this county, from the OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). DR: major disaster; EM: emergency; FM: fire management assistance. Programs show whether individual or public assistance was made available.
Flood insurance claims
| Year of loss | Claims | Paid claims | Amount paid | Average paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 2024 | 39 | 22 | $692,928 | $31,497 |
| 2023 | 14 | 8 | $513,856 | $64,232 |
| 2022 | 10 | 7 | $246,512 | $35,216 |
| 2021 | 16 | 12 | $408,480 | $34,040 |
| 2020 | 2 | 2 | $6,246 | $3,123 |
| 2019 | 3 | 1 | $9,420 | $9,420 |
| 2018 | 5 | 3 | $215,068 | $71,689 |
| 2017 | 1 | 1 | $2,841 | $2,841 |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 2015 | 3 | 1 | $526 | $526 |
| 2014 | 8 | 5 | $21,320 | $4,264 |
| 2013 | 8 | 5 | $190,617 | $38,123 |
| 2012 | 857 | 696 | $32,554,073 | $46,773 |
| 2011 | 52 | 37 | $1,296,378 | $35,037 |
| 2010 | 422 | 358 | $7,915,390 | $22,110 |
| 2009 | 16 | 14 | $146,935 | $10,495 |
| 2008 | 4 | 2 | $6,919 | $3,459 |
| 2007 | 55 | 35 | $331,027 | $9,458 |
| 2006 | 5 | 3 | $19,252 | $6,417 |
| 2005 | 65 | 46 | $824,883 | $17,932 |
| 2004 | 1 | 1 | $2,153 | $2,153 |
| 2003 | 5 | 2 | $10,587 | $5,293 |
| 2002 | 5 | 2 | $27,207 | $13,603 |
| 2001 | 14 | 7 | $49,819 | $7,117 |
OpenFEMA NFIP claims (v3, as of 8 Sep 2026), aggregated by year of loss; amounts are building, contents and increased-cost-of-compliance payments as recorded. Repetitive-loss counts from the NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (2 Aug 2026); policies in force from the NFIP Residential Penetration Rates file (3 Aug 2026).
National Risk Index
| Hazard (NRI) | Risk rating | Expected annual loss |
|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | $21,988,034 | |
| Hurricane | $3,481,947 | |
| Coastal flooding | $2,345,028 | |
| Earthquake | $921,493 | |
| Tornado | $664,145 | |
| Lightning | $560,886 | |
| Cold wave | $425,184 | |
| Heat wave | $418,538 | |
| Strong wind | $392,529 | |
| Ice storm | $310,142 | |
| Drought | $123,855 | |
| Winter weather | $65,579 | |
| Wildfire | $12,653 | |
| Hail | $6,359 | |
| Landslide | $746 |
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release. Ratings are FEMA's relative comparison of counties; expected annual loss is FEMA's modelled estimate of average yearly building, population and agriculture loss. See how to read the NRI.
Hurricane and tropical storm passes
| Storm | Year | Closest approach | Max wind while within 100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa | 2021 | 4 mi | 58 mph |
| Henri | 2021 | 11 mi | 63 mph |
| Ida | 2021 | 83 mi | 46 mph |
| Andrea | 2013 | 94 mi | 46 mph |
| Hanna | 2008 | 35 mi | 52 mph |
| Barry | 2007 | 54 mi | 40 mph |
| Beryl | 2006 | 64 mi | 52 mph |
| Hermine | 2004 | 38 mi | 40 mph |
| Allison | 2001 | 100 mi | 40 mph |
| Floyd | 1999 | 55 mi | 58 mph |
| Bertha | 1996 | 51 mi | 69 mph |
| Josephine | 1996 | 42 mi | 52 mph |
| Bob | 1991 | 11 mi | 104 mph |
| Gloria | 1985 | 70 mi | 86 mph |
| Henri | 1985 | 62 mi | 40 mph |
| Belle | 1976 | 87 mi | 69 mph |
| Carrie | 1972 | 92 mi | 69 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1968 | 72 mi | 63 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1967 | 84 mi | 46 mph |
| Alma | 1966 | 56 mi | 46 mph |
| Esther | 1961 | 63 mi | 86 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1961 | 56 mi | 63 mph |
| Donna | 1960 | 41 mi | 98 mph |
| Cindy | 1959 | 52 mi | 58 mph |
| Diane | 1955 | 35 mi | 46 mph |
HURDAT2 best-track positions at tropical-storm strength (34 kt) or more, measured from the county's Census centre point; through the 2025 season. Distance from a track is not the same as the extent of the storm's wind, rain or surge.
ZIP codes with flood claims
- 02891 866
- 02879 488
- 02882 387
- 02852 275
- 02813 226
- 02874 20
- 02832 18
- 02807 18
- 02892 11
- 02822 10
- 40404 9
- 02804 6
- 02836 5
- 02808 5
ZIP codes whose NFIP claims carry this county's code, with the number of claims. Five or more claims are needed for a ZIP page to be indexed.
Questions and answers
How often does it hail in Washington County, RI?
NCEI records 27 hail events in Washington County since 1950, in 14 different years; that is about 0.4 recorded events a year. 2 reports were golf-ball size (1.75 in) or larger.
Has Washington County had a tornado?
Yes. NCEI records 3 tornadoes in Washington County since 1950, 0 of them rated (E)F2 or stronger. Tornado deaths recorded: 0.
When was the last federal disaster declaration for Washington County?
20 Mar 2024: Severe Storms And Flooding, a major disaster declaration for severe storm. The county appears in 25 declarations since 1953.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Washington County, and how much was paid?
2,399 NFIP claims since 1978, 1,766 of them paid, for $52M in total. FEMA publishes these figures redacted and aggregated; individual properties are not identified.
Is Washington County in the National Risk Index's high-risk band?
FEMA's National Risk Index (December 2025) rates the county "Relatively Low" for overall risk, "Relatively Low" for expected annual loss, "Very Low" for social vulnerability and "Very High" for community resilience. These ratings are FEMA's relative comparison across all US counties.
How does Washington County compare with the rest of Rhode Island?
112.1 recorded events per 100 square miles against 240.3 statewide, and 18.4 NFIP claims per 1,000 residents against 6.4. The comparison table on this page shows each measure beside the state and national figures.
Provenance
Storm events: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026 (public domain). Declarations: OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, refreshed 1 Oct 2026. Flood claims: OpenFEMA NfipClaims v3 as of 8 Sep 2026; NfipMultipleLossProperties v1 (2 Aug 2026); NfipResidentialPenetrationRates v1 (3 Aug 2026). Risk index: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Hurricane tracks: NHC HURDAT2 through 2025. Population and area: US Census Bureau, 2021 vintage. Built 1 Oct 2026; see the methodology and corrections pages. Hazard hubs: Hail · Tornado · Flood · Wind · Winter.