States › Washington › Chelan County
Chelan County, Washington
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 169 events for Chelan County, Washington, between 1950 and 2026; floods and flash floods account for the largest share.
That is 5.8 events per 100 square miles, below the Washington figure of 15.1, and 21.2 per 10,000 residents against 12.9 statewide.
7 events fall in the 12 months to 30 Jun 2026. NCEI attributes 1 death and 7 injuries to events in the county, with property damage estimated at $16M and crop damage at $162M.
FEMA has designated the county in 53 federal disaster declarations since 1953; the most recent is Wildfires (emergency, 3 Aug 2026).
National Flood Insurance Program policyholders in the county filed 183 claims since 1978, of which 127 were paid, totalling $3.0M (about $23K per paid claim). FEMA counts 469 residential flood policies in force.
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall risk as "Relatively Moderate" and its expected annual loss as "Relatively Moderate" ($89M a year across 18 hazards).
Compared with Washington and the United States
| Measure | Chelan County | Washington | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded events since 1950 | 169 | 10,014 | 1,977,440 |
| Events per 100 square miles | 5.8 | 15.1 | 56.0 |
| Events per 10,000 residents | 21.2 | 12.9 | 59.6 |
| Events in the last 12 months | 7 | 130 | 62,008 |
| Deaths recorded by NCEI | 1 | 321 | 26,435 |
| Property damage (NCEI estimates) | $16M | $4.6B | $575B |
| NFIP claims per 1,000 residents | 2.3 | 2.1 | 8.1 |
| Average paid NFIP claim | $23K | $29K | $43K |
| Claims per 100 policies in force, last 10 years | 8.7 | 10.7 | 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: 140 events in the 20 years to 2025 against 22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Apr 1996 | Lightning | Lightning | — | — | — | 1 | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1998 | Wildfire | Wildfire | — | $10M | $80M | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 1999 | Lightning | Lightning | — | — | — | — | 6 | County |
| 16 May 1994 | Hail | Hail | 0.00 in | — | $50M | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2001 | Heavy Rain | Other | — | — | $10M | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2006 | Lightning | Lightning | — | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 5 Jul 2006 | Hail | Hail | 1.25 in | — | $4.2M | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2006 | Hail | Hail | 1.00 in | — | $4.2M | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2006 | Hail | Hail | 0.75 in | — | $4.2M | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2006 | Hail | Hail | 1.00 in | — | $4.2M | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2006 | Hail | Hail | 1.25 in | — | $4.2M | — | — | County |
| 7 Jan 2009 | Flood | Flood | — | $1.1M | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2013 | Debris Flow | Other | — | $700K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 2013 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $700K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2011 | Heavy Rain | Other | — | — | $640K | — | — | County |
| 6 Nov 2006 | Flood | Flood | — | $569K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1997 | Hail | Hail | 0.75 in | — | $500K | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2010 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 2013 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $330K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2001 | Wildfire | Wildfire | — | $200K | — | — | — | County |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Aug 2026 | EM-3650 | Emergency | Fire | Wildfires | Public assistance |
| 7 Apr 2026 | DR-4906 | Major disaster | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 12 Dec 2025 | EM-3629 | Emergency | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Public assistance |
| 26 Sep 2025 | FM-5614 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Lower Sugarloaf Fire | Public assistance |
| 29 Mar 2022 | DR-4650 | Major disaster | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding | Public assistance |
| 18 Aug 2021 | FM-5414 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Twentyfive Mile Fire | Public assistance |
| 14 Jul 2021 | FM-5398 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Red Apple Fire | Public assistance |
| 7 Sep 2020 | FM-5352 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Apple Acres Fire | Public assistance |
| 22 Mar 2020 | DR-4481 | Major disaster | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 13 Mar 2020 | EM-3427 | Emergency | Biological | Covid-19 | Public assistance |
| 11 Aug 2018 | FM-5270 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Cougar Creek Fire | Public assistance |
| 23 May 2017 | FM-5182 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Spromberg Fire | Public assistance |
| 28 Aug 2016 | FM-5152 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Suncrest Fire | Public assistance |
| 15 Jan 2016 | DR-4249 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Public assistance |
| 20 Oct 2015 | DR-4243 | Major disaster | Fire | Wildfires And Mudslides | Public assistance |
| 21 Aug 2015 | EM-3372 | Emergency | Fire | Wildfires | Public assistance |
| 14 Aug 2015 | FM-5100 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Chelan Fire Complex | Public assistance |
| 29 Jun 2015 | FM-5087 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Sleepy Hollow Fire | Public assistance |
| 6 Aug 2014 | FM-5072 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Hansel Fire | Public assistance |
| 23 Jul 2014 | EM-3371 | Emergency | Fire | Wildfires | Public assistance |
| 17 Jul 2014 | FM-5061 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Chiwaukum Fire | Public assistance |
| 10 Jul 2014 | FM-5059 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Mills Canyon Fire | Public assistance |
| 21 Aug 2013 | FM-5048 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Eagle Fire | Public assistance |
| 10 Aug 2013 | FM-5042 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Mile Post 10 Fire | Public assistance |
| 30 Jul 2013 | FM-5038 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Colockum Tarps Fire | Public assistance |
| 20 Sep 2012 | FM-5020 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Table Mountain Fire | Public assistance |
| 13 Sep 2012 | FM-5018 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Peavine Fire | Public assistance |
| 12 Sep 2012 | FM-5017 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Poison Fire | Public assistance |
| 10 Sep 2012 | FM-5015 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Byrd Canyon Fire | Public assistance |
| 9 Sep 2012 | FM-5012 | Fire management assistance | Fire | 1st Canyon Fire | Public assistance |
| 29 Jul 2009 | FM-2823 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Union Valley Fire | Public assistance |
| 2 Mar 2009 | DR-1825 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Record And Near Record Snow | Public assistance |
| 30 Jan 2009 | DR-1817 | Major disaster | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, And Flooding | Public assistance |
| 8 Jul 2007 | FM-2711 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Easy Street Fire | Public assistance |
| 14 Feb 2007 | DR-1682 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, And Mudslides | Public assistance |
| 12 Dec 2006 | DR-1671 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Public assistance |
| 11 Sep 2006 | FM-2674 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Flick Creek Fire | Public assistance |
| 7 Sep 2005 | EM-3227 | Emergency | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Public assistance |
| 1 Aug 2005 | FM-2572 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Dirty Face Fire | Public assistance |
| 11 Aug 2004 | FM-2543 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Wa-Fischer Wildfire-08-11-2004 | Public assistance |
| 30 Jul 2004 | FM-2537 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Deep Harbor Fire | Public assistance |
| 7 Nov 2003 | DR-1499 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding | Individual assistance |
| 20 Jul 2002 | FM-2449 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Wa - Deer Point Fire - 07/20/02 | Public assistance |
| 17 Aug 2001 | FM-2379 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Wa - Rex Creek Fire Complex - 2379 | Public assistance |
| 14 Aug 2001 | FM-2374 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Wa - Icicle Fire Complex - 2374 | Public assistance |
| 28 Jul 2001 | FM-2368 | Fire management assistance | Fire | Wa - Union Valley Fire - 07/28/01 | Public assistance |
| 1 Mar 2001 | DR-1361 | Major disaster | Earthquake | Earthquake | Individual assistance |
| 17 Jan 1997 | DR-1159 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Land & Muds Slides,Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 3 Jan 1996 | DR-1079 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, High Wind, And Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 26 Nov 1990 | DR-883 | Major disaster | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 21 May 1980 | DR-623 | Major disaster | Volcanic Eruption | Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. Helens | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 31 Mar 1977 | EM-3037 | Emergency | Drought | Drought | Public assistance |
| 10 Jun 1972 | DR-334 | Major disaster | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding | Individual assistance, 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 | 1 | $11,003 | $11,003 |
| 2025 | 28 | 25 | $1,812,089 | $72,484 |
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | $4,275 | $4,275 |
| 2019 | 9 | 5 | $58,241 | $11,648 |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 2016 | 3 | 1 | $4,798 | $4,798 |
| 2013 | 15 | 12 | $28,291 | $2,358 |
| 2010 | 12 | 6 | $5,093 | $849 |
| 2009 | 4 | 2 | $20,671 | $10,336 |
| 2006 | 11 | 6 | $80,301 | $13,384 |
| 2004 | 1 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 2003 | 5 | 5 | $121,979 | $24,396 |
| 2000 | 1 | 1 | $9,691 | $9,691 |
| 1999 | 3 | 3 | $24,165 | $8,055 |
| 1998 | 1 | 1 | $16,281 | $16,281 |
| 1997 | 4 | 3 | $12,498 | $4,166 |
| 1996 | 13 | 7 | $81,908 | $11,701 |
| 1995 | 39 | 31 | $433,475 | $13,983 |
| 1993 | 3 | 1 | $39,091 | $39,091 |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 1990 | 16 | 11 | $205,134 | $18,649 |
| 1989 | 1 | 1 | $2,653 | $2,653 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 1980 | 6 | 4 | $10,116 | $2,529 |
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 | $41,286,485 | |
| Wildfire | $34,925,041 | |
| Earthquake | $4,097,694 | |
| Avalanche | $3,521,724 | |
| Cold wave | $1,685,021 | |
| Heat wave | $1,217,655 | |
| Lightning | $840,533 | |
| Hail | $466,094 | |
| Winter weather | $163,548 | |
| Landslide | $142,082 | |
| Strong wind | $74,384 | |
| Tornado | $52,478 | |
| Ice storm | $17,463 | |
| Volcanic activity | $15,053 | |
| Drought | $1,985 |
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
No HURDAT2 track at tropical-storm strength passes within 100 miles of the county's centre point (through the 2025 season).
ZIP codes with flood claims
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 Chelan County, WA?
NCEI records 22 hail events in Chelan County since 1950, in 10 different years; that is about 0.3 recorded events a year. 2 reports were golf-ball size (1.75 in) or larger.
Has Chelan County had a tornado?
NCEI records no tornado in Chelan County since 1950.
When was the last federal disaster declaration for Chelan County?
3 Aug 2026: Wildfires, a emergency declaration for fire. The county appears in 53 declarations since 1953.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Chelan County, and how much was paid?
183 NFIP claims since 1978, 127 of them paid, for $3.0M in total. FEMA publishes these figures redacted and aggregated; individual properties are not identified.
Is Chelan County in the National Risk Index's high-risk band?
FEMA's National Risk Index (December 2025) rates the county "Relatively Moderate" for overall risk, "Relatively Moderate" for expected annual loss, "Relatively Moderate" for social vulnerability and "Relatively High" for community resilience. These ratings are FEMA's relative comparison across all US counties.
How does Chelan County compare with the rest of Washington?
5.8 recorded events per 100 square miles against 15.1 statewide, and 2.3 NFIP claims per 1,000 residents against 2.1. 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.