Clackamas County, Oregon
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Clackamas County, Oregon has a relatively high overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 95% of US counties. It ranks 6th of 36 counties in Oregon. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $219 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $520 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,263 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $25 million on 816 claims here, including $15 million for floods in 1996.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Clackamas 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | 98.6 | $109M | ||
| Inland flooding | 93.7 | $77M | ||
| Cold wave | 95.2 | $15M | ||
| Heat wave | 95.5 | $8M | ||
| Strong wind | 93.4 | $3M | ||
| Avalanche | 86.5 | $2M | ||
| Ice storm | 90.9 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 83.2 | $1M | ||
| Wildfire | 86.8 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 38.1 | $1M | ||
| Volcanic activity | 95.8 | $495K | ||
| Winter weather | 85.4 | $368K | ||
| Landslide | 95.8 | $210K | ||
| Hail | 31.6 | $165K | ||
| Drought | 14.1 | $378 | ||
| Coastal flooding | 18.8 | $200 |
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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Clackamas County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 21
Oregon also had 42 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1957
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 107 storm reports in Clackamas County since 1957, with 6 deaths and 7 injuries and about $24.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on October 9, 2000 near Molalla.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 9, 2000 | F1 | Molalla | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 9, 2000 | F1 | Oregon City | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 12, 1957 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 26, 2009 | EF0 | Redland | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 22, 2022 | EF0 | Cherryville | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 16, 2011 | Flood | Government Camp | $9M |
| Jan 16, 2011 | Flood | Cattrell | $9M |
| Nov 7, 2006 | Flood | Bull Run | $3M |
| Jan 19, 2012 | Flood | Barlow | $1M |
| Jan 19, 2012 | Flood | Canby | $1M |
| Dec 7, 2015 | Flood | Estacada | $381K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 27, 2026. 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 Clackamas 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 Clackamas 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; 174,323 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Multnomah County | 10 | |
| Washington County | 15 | |
| Marion County | 13 | |
| Yamhill County | 17 | |
| Wasco County | 24 | |
| Hood River County | 15 |
Common questions about Clackamas County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Clackamas County?
Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Clackamas County, about $109 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $76.6 million.
How many federal disasters has Clackamas County had?
Clackamas County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2026.
Is Clackamas County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively High, 6th 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 Clackamas County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Clackamas 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 Clackamas County had?
NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in Clackamas County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on October 9, 2000 near Molalla. The weather service has also logged 14 hail reports and 39 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.