Tornado Risk in Adams County, WA
Adams County's tornado history, by the numbers
3 tornado tracks have crossed Adams County since 1978 by NOAA's count, roughly one every 25.6 years - the Minimal band on this site's scale. That is the 11th percentile nationally for tornado frequency. Within Washington alone, Adams County ranks 20 of 39 counties for tornado frequency.
The number that matters more than frequency
No violent (EF4-5) tornado has been recorded in Adams County in NOAA's 76-year database. Of its 3 recorded tracks, 3 were weak (EF0-1) and 0 significant (EF2-3).
Shelter and safe-room economics
Washington does not currently have a confirmed state rebate layered on top of FEMA's 75% Hazard Mitigation cost-share, so a Adams County homeowner should expect the full national range: $2,890-$13,280, $7,645 typical.
Power after the storm, not just shelter during it
A direct hit is not required for Adams County to lose power - outbreak-wide outages across Washington regularly reach homes and businesses well outside the actual tracks. A battery bank covers that gap without a generator's fuel and venting needs.
What Adams County's figure does not tell you
Adams County's figure is county-wide, not address-specific. Adams County covers about 1,925 square miles, so a single touch here counts the same as a single touch in a county a fraction of that size. NOAA also documents that older records undercount weaker tornadoes from before Doppler radar became standard. Adams County has about 21,039 residents.