Benton County, Oregon
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Benton County, Oregon has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 84% of US counties. It ranks 15th of 36 counties in Oregon. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $64 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $673 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2024 (severe winter storms, straight-line winds, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 50 homes here carry federal flood insurance (597 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $544,000 on 70 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Benton County
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | 97.2 | $41M | ||
| Inland flooding | 74.8 | $19M | ||
| Heat wave | 80.5 | $2M | ||
| Landslide | 97.5 | $503K | ||
| Lightning | 41.2 | $203K | ||
| Cold wave | 15.5 | $193K | ||
| Ice storm | 56.5 | $138K | ||
| Strong wind | 13.5 | $133K | ||
| Tornado | 12.7 | $125K | ||
| Winter weather | 45.1 | $66K | ||
| Wildfire | 37.1 | $26K | ||
| Hail | 6.2 | $21K | ||
| Drought | 14.0 | $287 | ||
| Avalanche | 11.1 | $12 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 21.5 | $0 |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Benton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 13
Oregon also had 42 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1982
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 45 storm reports in Benton County since 1982 and about $3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on June 1, 1997 near Albany.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 1997 | F0 | Albany | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 6, 2025 | EFU | Bruce | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 18, 2012 | Flood | Conroy | $3M |
| Jul 13, 2014 | Lightning | Corvallis | $11K |
| Dec 17, 2015 | Flood | Alsea | $10K |
| May 1, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Adair Vlg | $5K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 6, 2025. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Flood insurance in Benton County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Benton County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 40,951 housing units.
Compare in Oregon
All 36 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Multnomah County | Earthquake | |
| Washington County | Earthquake | |
| Clackamas County | Earthquake | |
| Lane County | Inland flooding | |
| Marion County | Earthquake | |
| Jackson County | Inland flooding | |
| Deschutes County | Inland flooding | |
| Linn County | Earthquake |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Lane County | 21 | |
| Linn County | 19 | |
| Polk County | 13 | |
| Lincoln County | 21 |
Cities in Benton County
Common questions about Benton County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Benton County?
Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Benton County, about $41.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $19.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Benton County had?
Benton County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2024.
Is Benton County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 15th highest of 36 in Oregon. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Benton County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 50 homes in Benton County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Benton County had?
NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Benton County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on June 1, 1997 near Albany. The weather service has also logged 0 hail reports and 25 floods here.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.