Climate Impacts in Washington
Washington knows the impacts of climate of change as much as any state in the country. Wildfires, heatwaves, floods, and atmospheric rivers have all impacted Washington families and workers. The impacts have been devastating and the threat of more damage is greater every year.
Click on the icons below to learn more about how climate change is impacting Washington.
Fires and Smoke in Chelan County
Nearly every property in Chelan County faces threat from wildfires and smoke. Whether you live there or like to visit Lake Chelan, you’ve felt and seen the impacts as fires have closed businesses and shut down recreation. Let’s look at some of the numbers that highlight the danger and impact.
99%
99% of properties in Chelan county face fire risk over the next 30 years
$3 billion
Insurance companies assessed $3 billion for 13,121 homes they deemed as having some risk for wildfires in the county. There was $198 million for 634 homes in assessed risk for properties rated as high fire risk in Chelan county
🡓75%
Chelan county saw a 75% drop in revenue for Lake Chelan businesses during the 2015 wildfires.
Ok we know some of the dangers. What are 3 things that can be done to help Chelan County?
Properties at risk from Fire in Chelan County
Promote home hardening and work with property owners to create defensible space from fires. Strengthen WUI building & vegetation standards
Create Clean Air Centers for workers with quality HEPA filters and HVAC systems. Make sure employers have smoke & heat response plans
Use the PM2.5 sensor networks to create early warning systems for smoke danger. These can be placed at schools, childcare centers, and other employers in the county
Flooding in Pierce County
2025 brought record flooding to Pierce County. Those in the Sumner and Orting Valley were hit hard as the banks of the Puyallup river flooded. Parts of Hwy 410 at Boisie Creek were made impassable after flooding near Enumclaw and Greenwater. While communities are taking important steps to protect themselves, the threat of flooding grows each year.
47,309
47,309 properties in Pierce County have a risk of flooding.
$8.3 million
$8.3 million in damages were reported in 2025 as a result of the flooding. 40 properties had structural damage
🡑30%
Low-income families and households face a 30% greater risk of flooding damage in Pierce County. 70 RVs and 100 low-income households lost their housing in the 2025 floods
Properties at risk for Flooding in Pierce County
Ok we know some of the dangers. What are 3 things that can be done to help Pierce County?
Continue the expansion and strengthen levees near vulnerable communities. Levee expansion after floods in 2006 helped ensure floods in 2025 weren’t worse. Continue that work.
Community recovery plans need to be updated to help working and low-income families and farmers recover from floods. They are the most vulnerable to floods and plans need to be updated to protect these communities.
Bridges and key infrastructure need to be repaired and protected. Pierce county is dotted with bridges connecting working people and farmers to one another.
Wildfires and Smoke in Spokane County
2023 saw devastating wildfires in Spokane County. The Gray and Oregon fires destroyed homes and made the air unbreathable burning through 20,000 acres of land and destorying 360 homes. I-90 was shut down and many families worried about if they could stay in their homes. These wildfires hit working families and farmers hardest. There’s no where else to call home.
353%
Spokane county has seen a 353% increase in days of ‘Moderate’ air quality since 2014. We know wildfires come with poor and moderate air quality affecting young and old
$166 million
$166 million in property value was lost during the Grey and Oregon fires in 2023 across the county. Those fires destroyed 360 homes
🡑87%
87% of properties in Spokane County have some risk that they’ll be affected by wildfires over the next 30 years. That’s 184,212 properties!
Ok we know some of the dangers. What are 3 things that can be done to help Spokane County?
Continue the strengthening of community centers as resilience hubs to support community members in times of need and fire danger
Provide low-cost public transportation on poor air quality days. Buses are equipped with safer air filtration systems that mean workers can get to and from work safely
Distribute air filters to working and low-income families. When smoke and fire risk are at their highest air filtration is crucial in protecting residents