255 flood insurance claims·$3.3M paid·8 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Kittitas County, Washington. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Riverine flooding from snowmelt and heavy rain dominates local flood patterns, accounting for 16 of the 21 recorded flood events over the last 30 years alongside 5 flash flood events. Seasonal flood hazards are driven by weather conditions such as the March 2017 event, when snowmelt combined with periods of rain to flood numerous streams across south-central Washington. Spring flood episodes are also intensified by abundant snowpack and wet ground, as occurred in May 2011 when thunderstorms and heavy rainfall triggered a 75-yard-wide mudslide that closed Highway 410.
National Flood Insurance Program records show claims across multiple zones. Zone A carries the highest volume with 195 claims averaging a payout of $17,076 and an average recorded water depth of 9 inches. Unshaded Zone X properties recorded 33 claims with an average payout of $19,297 and an average water depth of 4 inches, while Zone X recorded 12 claims with an average payout of $16,242 and an average water depth of 8 inches. Shaded Zone X recorded 11 claims with an average payout of $8,210 and an average water depth of 27 inches, and unknown zones recorded 4 claims averaging $5,180 with an average water depth of 3 inches. Homeowners and real estate agents with properties in Zone A and various designations of Zone X should pay the closest attention to these flood risks.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
18% of Kittitas County’s flood insurance claims were on properties rated outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
239 NFIP claims with a recorded rated flood zone, 1978 to date. The zone is the one FEMA used to rate that policy, which may not match today’s map. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 9 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 2009, with 70 claims and $1.3M paid, the year of Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
4 NOAA storm reports from Kittitas County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Washington flood stories →
28 federal disaster declarations since 1964, 8 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Dec 9, 2025 |
| Wildfires And Straight-line Winds | Sep 1, 2020 |
| Ryegrass Coulee Fire | Jul 9, 2018 |
| Jolly Mountain Fire | Sep 2, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Nov 12, 2015 |
| Snag Canyon Fire | Aug 2, 2014 |
| Saddle Mountain Fire | Jul 19, 2014 |
| Wildfires | Jul 9, 2014 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
21 since 1996: 5 flash floods and 16 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Mar 13, 2017 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 14, 2014 | — |
| Flood | May 9, 2013 | — |
| Flood | Mar 31, 2011 | — |
| Flood | May 15, 2011 | $4.0M |
| Flood | Jan 15, 2011 | $2.1M |
| Flash Flood | Apr 1, 2011 | — |
| Flood | Apr 1, 2011 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flood · Mar 13, 2017. Snow melt, combined with periods rain, resulted in numerous streams flooding across south-central Washington.
Flash Flood · Aug 14, 2014. An upper level low pressure system off the coast of southwest Oregon slowly moved inland the afternoon and evening of August 13th. This lead to another round of showers and thunderstorms for most of the forecast area. Heavy rain and large hail were the main severe weather threats on this day. But an isolated tornado was reported near Rattle Snake Mountain.
Flood · May 9, 2013. Water flowed over roads to a depth of 6-10 inches in the vicinity of Heron Drive and Nighthawk Lane as well as flowing around several houses on Morning Dove Lane. Areas of standing water due to the rise of the water table.
Flood · Mar 31, 2011. Heavy rainfall on melting snowpack along the east slopes of the Washington Cascades caused flooding along numerous streams in western Kittitas and Yakima counties. Reported rainfall included 2.5 inches in Easton and .69 inches in Cle Elum.
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Kittitas County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.