Moderate Risk Washington  ·  Earthquake / Volcanic

Thurston County WA

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & DISASTER RISK PROFILE  ·  LAST UPDATED: Mar 2026

5/ 10
Threat Score
Population
291
Area
727
sq miles
Primary Hazard
Earthquake / Volcanic
FEMA Disasters
5
federally declared

Thurston County anchored by Olympia the Washington state capital sits in the Nisqually earthquake zone — the 2001 Nisqually earthquake of magnitude 6.8 caused widespread damage across the county. The county is in the lahar flow paths from Mount Rainier. As the state capital county Thurston County hosts critical Washington state government infrastructure. Joint Base Lewis-McChord is in adjacent Pierce County creating regional military emergency planning coordination requirements.

// Recommended Supplies

Essential gear for power outages, severe weather, and emergency situations in your area.

// Risk Intelligence

Threat Score 5 / 10    Moderate Risk
Primary Hazard Earthquake / Volcanic
Secondary Hazard Wildfire
FEMA Flood Zone Moderate
Federally Declared Disasters 5
Last Major Event 2001 Nisqually Earthquake
Event Frequency Annual

// Emergency Operations

Emergency Mgmt Phone (360) 786-5400
Emergency Shelters 10 designated facilities
Evacuation Routes I-5 US-101 WA-8 WA-507

// County Profile

County Thurston County WA
State Washington (WA)
Population 291
Area 727 sq miles
FEMA Region Moderate

// Major Cities

Yelm WA Lacey WA Tumwater WA Olympia WA

// Cities in This County

// Other Washington Counties

// Nearby Infrastructure Risks

Critical infrastructure facilities within or near this area that could affect civilian safety during emergencies, conflict, or infrastructure failures.

🚂
Cascades Corridor Amtrak Seattle to Portland
Rail Infrastructure  ·  DuPont, WA  ·  Amtrak / WSDOT  ·  2-mi risk zone
7/10 High

Infrastructure risk data is for emergency preparedness awareness. Facility locations are publicly known. Always follow official emergency guidance.