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Clackamas County, Oregon

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively High overall risk
6th of 36highest risk in Oregon
$219Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: M.O. Stevens, CC BY 3.0

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

$109 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 65 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$76.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$15 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeHigh98.6
$109M
Inland floodingHigh93.7
$77M
Cold waveHigh95.2
$15M
Heat waveModerate95.5
$8M
Strong windHigh93.4
$3M
AvalancheHigh86.5
$2M
Ice stormHigh90.9
$1M
LightningHigh83.2
$1M
WildfireLow86.8
$1M
TornadoLow38.1
$1M
Volcanic activityModerate95.8
$495K
Winter weatherHigh85.4
$368K
LandslideModerate95.8
$210K
HailVery Low31.6
$165K
DroughtVery Low14.1
$378
Coastal floodingVery Low18.8
$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

Severe Storm8
Fire7
Flood4
Earthquake1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Apr 7, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 13, 2024Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2022Milo Mciver FireFire management
May 4, 2021Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2020Wildfires and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2020Clakamas County Fire ComplexFire management
Sep 10, 2020WildfiresEmergency
Sep 9, 2020Riverside FireFire management
Sep 8, 2020Beachie Creek Lionshead Fire ComplexFire management
Feb 17, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 21
Sep 16, 201436 Pit FireFire management
Feb 17, 2011Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Mudslides, Landslides, and Debris FlowsMajor disaster
Mar 2, 2009Severe Winter Storm, Record and Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Mar 20, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 19, 2004Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 9, 1996High Winds, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1993EarthquakeMajor disaster
Jan 25, 1974Severe Storms, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 21, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 24, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

8tornadoes
14hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
14damaging thunderstorm winds
39floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 9, 2000F1Molalla0 / 0
Oct 9, 2000F1Oregon City0 / 0
Apr 12, 1957F1–0 / 0
Oct 26, 2009EF0Redland0 / 0
Oct 22, 2022EF0Cherryville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 16, 2011FloodGovernment Camp$9M
Jan 16, 2011FloodCattrell$9M
Nov 7, 2006FloodBull Run$3M
Jan 19, 2012FloodBarlow$1M
Jan 19, 2012FloodCanby$1M
Dec 7, 2015FloodEstacada$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 ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (1,263 policies)
40.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$24.6 millionpaid on 816 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $15.5 million paid

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

$611,000median home value (Oregon $477,600, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Oregon 1981, US 1980)
44%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.8%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

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 countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Multnomah CountyHighEarthquake
Washington CountyHighEarthquake
Clackamas CountyHighEarthquake
Lane CountyHighInland flooding
Marion CountyHighEarthquake
Jackson CountyModerateInland flooding
Deschutes CountyModerateInland flooding
Linn CountyModerateEarthquake

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Multnomah CountyHigh10
Washington CountyHigh15
Marion CountyHigh13
Yamhill CountyModerate17
Wasco CountyLow24
Hood River CountyVery Low15

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.