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County disaster-history profile

Data updated Aug 23, 2026 · Sources validated Aug 23, 2026 · Current conditions: Live Dashboard →

Chelan County, Washington disaster history

Explore FEMA administrative declarations and NOAA county-coded observed-event records, with coverage, patterns, and limitations kept separate.

Two official histories, kept separate

Administrative

FEMA declarations

Unique declarations
53
Coverage
1964–2026

Leading categories

  • Wildfire34
  • Severe storm7
  • Flood6

+5 more categories in full details

Full source details

Observed reports

NOAA events

Unique county-event records
162
Coverage
1996–2026

Leading categories

  • Flood79
  • Landslide36
  • Hail16

+6 more categories in full details

Full source details
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Full source details and state comparisons

FEMA declarations and NOAA event reports remain in separate panels because they answer different questions.

Administrative records

FEMA declaration history

Unique federal disaster declarations that include a county designation. A declaration is a government action, not a complete census of physical events.

Unique FEMA declarations
53
County designation records
53

Coverage: Jan 1, 1964 – Aug 23, 2026

Record categories

  • Wildfire34
  • Severe storm7
  • Flood6
  • Biological2
  • Coastal storm1
  • Drought1
  • Earthquake1
  • Volcanic eruption1

Same-source state comparison

This county
53
Washington county median
26

This county count is 27 above the Washington county median for the same source and coverage period. Based on 39 county equivalents.

Observed-event reports

NOAA observed-event history

Distinct Storm Events records coded to this county. Forecast-zone and marine-zone reports are excluded from these county totals.

Unique NOAA county-event records
162

Coverage: Jan 1, 1996 – May 31, 2026

Record categories

  • Flood79
  • Landslide36
  • Hail16
  • High wind13
  • Severe storm8
  • Lightning5
  • Wildfire3
  • Other1
  • Tornado1

Same-source state comparison

This county
162
Washington county median
40

This county count is 122 above the Washington county median for the same source and coverage period. Based on 39 county equivalents.

Year-by-year official records

Years appear newest first when at least one source has a record. FEMA administrative declarations and NOAA observed county-event records remain in separate columns and are never added or ranked together.

FEMA administrative records

Unique federal disaster declarations that include this county, grouped by the declaration record’s incident start year. A declaration is a government action, not a physical-event census.

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 · Coverage: Jan 1, 1964 – Aug 23, 2026

NOAA observed-event records

Distinct NOAA Storm Events records explicitly coded to this county, grouped by event start year. Forecast-zone and marine-zone records are excluded from county counts.

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database · Coverage: Jan 1, 1996 – May 31, 2026

Annual FEMA unique declaration and NOAA county-event record counts, kept as separate source measures
YearUnique FEMA declarationsNOAA county-event records
202613
202534
202402
202309
2022013
202131
202031
2019011
201813
201718
201615
2015511
201448
2013318
201253
201106
201005
200926
200814
200710
2006322
200522
200420
200312
200210
200142
199902
199803
199707
199611
199510
199010
198010
197710
197210

When NOAA county-event records began

Monthly counts use only NOAA county-coded observed-event start dates. FEMA declaration dates are excluded.

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database · Coverage: Jan 1, 1996 – May 31, 2026

Exact monthly observed-event record counts
MonthRecords
January7
February0
March8
April3
May22
June39
July25
August27
September10
October4
November9
December8

Compare with another county

Compare like-for-like official record counts. FEMA declarations and NOAA observed-event records remain separate.

Comparing Chelan County, Washington with King County, Washington

Unique FEMA declarations

FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 · Jan 1, 1964 – Aug 23, 2026

Chelan County, Washington
53
King County, Washington
35

Unique NOAA county-event records

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database · Jan 1, 1996 – May 31, 2026

Chelan County, Washington
162
King County, Washington
74

Comparison updated to King County, Washington. FEMA: 53 versus 35. NOAA: 162 versus 74.

Recent representative records by source

These bounded, newest-first lists make official identifiers inspectable. Aggregate totals above come from each validated corpus, not from counting only the records shown here.

FEMA representative declarations

Administrative declaration dates and incident periods from OpenFEMA.

  2. FEMA administrative declaration

    SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES

    Declaration date
    Incident period
    –
    Official source
    FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2
    Official ID
    FEMA disaster 3629
    Record type
    Flood
    Open official record

  3. FEMA administrative declaration

    SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES

    Declaration date
    Incident period
    –
    Official source
    FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2
    Official ID
    FEMA disaster 4906
    Record type
    Flood
    Open official record

  4. FEMA administrative declaration

    LOWER SUGARLOAF FIRE

    Declaration date
    Incident period
    –
    Official source
    FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2
    Official ID
    FEMA disaster 5614
    Record type
    Wildfire
    Open official record

  5. FEMA administrative declaration

    SEVERE WINTER STORMS, SNOWSTORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING

    Declaration date
    Incident period
    –
    Official source
    FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2
    Official ID
    FEMA disaster 4650
    Record type
    Flood
    Open official record

  6. FEMA administrative declaration

    TWENTYFIVE MILE FIRE

    Declaration date
    Incident period
    –
    Official source
    FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2
    Official ID
    FEMA disaster 5414
    Record type
    Wildfire
    Open official record

  7. FEMA administrative declaration

    RED APPLE FIRE

    Declaration date
    Incident period
    –
    Official source
    FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2
    Official ID
    FEMA disaster 5398
    Record type
    Wildfire
    Open official record

  8. FEMA administrative declaration

    APPLE ACRES FIRE

    Declaration date
    Incident period
    –
    Official source
    FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2
    Official ID
    FEMA disaster 5352
    Record type
    Wildfire
    Open official record

  10. FEMA administrative declaration

    COVID-19 PANDEMIC

    Declaration date
    Incident period
    –
    Official source
    FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2
    Official ID
    FEMA disaster 4481
    Record type
    Biological
    Open official record

  11. FEMA administrative declaration

    COUGAR CREEK FIRE

    Declaration date
    Incident period
    –
    Official source
    FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2
    Official ID
    FEMA disaster 5270
    Record type
    Wildfire
    Open official record

  12. FEMA administrative declaration

    SPROMBERG FIRE

    Declaration date
    Incident period
    –
    Official source
    FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2
    Official ID
    FEMA disaster 5182
    Record type
    Wildfire
    Open official record

  14. FEMA administrative declaration

    SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES

    Declaration date
    Incident period
    –
    Official source
    FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2
    Official ID
    FEMA disaster 4249
    Record type
    Severe storm
    Open official record

  15. FEMA administrative declaration

    CHELAN FIRE COMPLEX

    Declaration date
    Incident period
    –
    Official source
    FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2
    Official ID
    FEMA disaster 5100
    Record type
    Wildfire
    Open official record

  17. FEMA administrative declaration

    WILDFIRES AND MUDSLIDES

    Declaration date
    Incident period
    –
    Official source
    FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2
    Official ID
    FEMA disaster 4243
    Record type
    Wildfire
    Open official record

  18. FEMA administrative declaration

    SLEEPY HOLLOW FIRE

    Declaration date
    Incident period
    –
    Official source
    FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2
    Official ID
    FEMA disaster 5087
    Record type
    Wildfire
    Open official record

  20. FEMA administrative declaration

    CHIWAUKUM FIRE

    Declaration date
    Incident period
    –
    Official source
    FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2
    Official ID
    FEMA disaster 5061
    Record type
    Wildfire
    Open official record

  21. FEMA administrative declaration

    MILLS CANYON FIRE

    Declaration date
    Incident period
    –
    Official source
    FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2
    Official ID
    FEMA disaster 5059
    Record type
    Wildfire
    Open official record

  24. FEMA administrative declaration

    MILE POST 10 FIRE

    Declaration date
    Incident period
    –
    Official source
    FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2
    Official ID
    FEMA disaster 5042
    Record type
    Wildfire
    Open official record

  25. FEMA administrative declaration

    COLOCKUM TARPS FIRE

    Declaration date
    Incident period
    –
    Official source
    FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2
    Official ID
    FEMA disaster 5038
    Record type
    Wildfire
    Open official record

  26. FEMA administrative declaration

    TABLE MOUNTAIN FIRE

    Declaration date
    Incident period
    –
    Official source
    FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2
    Official ID
    FEMA disaster 5020
    Record type
    Wildfire
    Open official record

  29. FEMA administrative declaration

    BYRD CANYON FIRE

    Declaration date
    Incident period
    –
    Official source
    FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2
    Official ID
    FEMA disaster 5015
    Record type
    Wildfire
    Open official record

NOAA representative observed events

County-coded observed-event types and dates from NOAA NCEI Storm Events.

Practical preparedness implications

These actions translate record categories into low-regret planning steps. They are not predictions and do not replace local emergency instructions.

  1. Priority 1

    Prepare for observed flood events

    Flood is the most frequently reported NOAA hazard type among 162 exact county-coded observed events in this profile.

    • Review household alerts, evacuation routes, and insurance coverage for this hazard.
    • Keep a documented communication and reunification plan that works during power or cellular outages.

    Evidence sections: NOAA observed events

  2. Priority 2

    Review declared wildfire history

    Wildfire is the most frequent hazard category among 53 unique exact-county FEMA declarations in this profile.

    • Review insurance, documentation, and recovery contacts relevant to this declaration category.
    • Learn which local and state assistance channels operate before any federal declaration is made.

    Evidence sections: FEMA declarations

  3. Priority 3

    Use June as a readiness checkpoint

    NOAA records place 39 observed county events in June, the profile's highest observed monthly count.

    • Before this historically high-count month, refresh supplies, medications, contact lists, and alert settings.
    • Recheck transportation and shelter options for people, pets, and accessibility needs.

    Evidence sections: NOAA observed events

  4. Priority 4

    Plan from both observed and declared history

    NOAA event reports describe observed local frequency, while FEMA declarations identify a narrower administrative record of incidents receiving federal declarations.

    • Do not treat the absence of a FEMA declaration as evidence that a damaging local event cannot occur.
    • After an incident, preserve photos, receipts, policy records, and official notices for local, state, insurance, and possible federal processes.

    Evidence sections: FEMA declarations and NOAA observed events

Methodology and profile limitations

A source-separated county history using exact OpenFEMA county designations and NOAA county-coded observed events.

Counting rules

  • FEMA counts one declaration per unique disasterNumber for exact county designations dated 1964 or later.
  • NOAA counts one unique EVENT_ID only when CZ_TYPE=C and the constructed state-plus-county FIPS matches exactly, from 1996 onward.
  • Statewide-only FEMA rows, NOAA forecast zones, and NOAA marine zones are excluded from county metrics.

Comparison rules

  • Each county is compared only with the median of the same source and metric across every county equivalent in its state.
  • The Washington baseline contains every compatible county equivalent, including zero-count counties if any.

Limitations

  • This atlas publishes source-separated historical records, not a probability of future loss.
  • Records can be revised by their issuing agencies; regeneration selects the newest official NOAA revision for every year.
  • Statewide-only FEMA declarations are disclosed but excluded from exact county metrics.
  • Observed history is not a forecast or modeled risk score.
  • FEMA declarations and NOAA event reports measure different phenomena and are never merged into one event total.

Sources, coverage, and limitations

Each official dataset retains its own meaning, coverage period, freshness, and limitations.

Profile generated:

FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Current for expected cadence
Coverage period
Jan 1, 1964 – Aug 23, 2026
Completeness
Complete for stated coverage and inclusion rules
Source updated
Retrieved by HazardNow
Expected update cadence
HazardNow refresh target: about weekly
Official dataset pageOpenFEMA API

Coverage notes

  • OpenFEMA v2 exact county designations from 1964 onward; disasterNumber is the unique declaration key.
  • Statewide-only, tribal, and other non-county designations are excluded from county metrics and medians.
  • Current Census county-equivalent FIPS define state comparison baselines; obsolete historical county codes are not reassigned.
  • County-level designation history is most consistently available from 1964 onward.
  • A declaration can designate multiple counties; each designation is a source record, not a separate physical event.

Limitations

  • Federal declarations are administrative actions and do not enumerate every damaging local incident.
  • Statewide-only and tribal designations are intentionally excluded from exact-county counts.
  • Federal declarations are administrative Stafford Act actions and do not capture every damaging local event.
  • Declaration counts should not be presented as forecasts or direct probabilities of future loss.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Environmental Information

Current for expected cadence
Coverage period
Jan 1, 1996 – May 31, 2026
Completeness
Partial for stated coverage or inclusion rules
Source updated
Retrieved by HazardNow
Expected update cadence
HazardNow refresh target: about monthly after source publication
Official dataset pageOfficial bulk files

Coverage notes

  • NCEI Storm Events details files for every year from 1996 through the current available year.
  • Only exact county-coded CZ_TYPE=C records are counted; forecast-zone and marine-zone records are excluded and disclosed.
  • Current Census county-equivalent FIPS define state comparison baselines; obsolete historical county codes are not reassigned.
  • Every state summary and county profile uses this same selected-national-corpus coverage window; a state or county need not have an event on the final date.
  • 15 optional damage cells contained a bare K/M/B suffix; those amounts are retained as unknown/null and are never inferred as zero.
  • 1 record had an unrecognized CZ_TYPE and was excluded because it could not be assigned to an exact county geography.
  • The 2026 shard is preliminary; national coverage ends at the latest accepted county event anywhere in the selected official corpus.
  • Comparable all-event statistics begin in 1996; earlier reporting eras cover only a subset of event types.
  • County profiles count only exact county-coded CZ_TYPE=C records; forecast-zone and marine-zone records are excluded.
  • Finalized Storm Events records typically lag the event month by about 75 to 90 days.

Limitations

  • Storm Events reports are not a complete loss inventory and reporting practices vary over time.
  • Forecast-zone and marine-zone records are excluded because they cannot be assigned exactly to one county.
  • 15 optional archive damage cells contained only a K/M/B suffix, so their dollar amounts remain unknown/null rather than inferred.
  • 1 archive record with an unrecognized CZ_TYPE was excluded rather than attributed to a county.
  • The current-year file is preliminary through the latest event present in its selected official revision.
  • Storm Events is a report database; reporting practices and included event types change over time.
  • Damage estimates and narratives may be incomplete and should retain their source-level caveats.