Clatsop County, Oregon
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Clatsop 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 5th of 36 counties in Oregon. The costliest hazards here are tsunamis, earthquakes and coastal flooding. FEMA estimates about $145 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $3,536 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 21 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,003 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.0 million on 160 claims here, including $614,000 for floods in 2007.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Clatsop County
- Learn the tsunami evacuation route signs.
- If you feel a strong quake near the coast, move to high ground right away.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- Learn your evacuation zone; it is set by surge risk, not by distance from the beach.
- Ask about flood insurance even outside a mapped high-risk zone.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tsunami | 96.9 | $100M | ||
| Earthquake | 96.5 | $21M | ||
| Coastal flooding | 96.4 | $12M | ||
| Inland flooding | 72.1 | $12M | ||
| Heat wave | 42.1 | $209K | ||
| Cold wave | 20.4 | $192K | ||
| Strong wind | 21.7 | $163K | ||
| Tornado | 12.1 | $77K | ||
| Lightning | 18.0 | $50K | ||
| Ice storm | 41.8 | $47K | ||
| Landslide | 88.7 | $41K | ||
| Wildfire | 44.4 | $28K | ||
| Winter weather | 17.6 | $13K | ||
| Hail | 4.2 | $8K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 82.1 | $987 | ||
| Avalanche | 18.1 | $23 | ||
| Drought | 12.3 | $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 relatively high 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 Clatsop County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 16
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 34 storm reports in Clatsop County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $66,500 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on October 3, 1967.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3, 1967 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 20, 1966 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 5, 1998 | F0 | Seaside | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 13, 1994 | F0 | Warrenton | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 15, 1996 | F0 | Seaside | 1 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 20, 1966 | Tornado | – | $25K |
| Oct 3, 1967 | Tornado | – | $25K |
| Nov 24, 2016 | Heavy Rain | Bradwood | $13K |
| Jan 5, 1998 | Tornado | Seaside | $3K |
| Feb 13, 1994 | Tornado | Warrenton | $500 |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Dec 5, 2023. 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 Clatsop 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 Clatsop 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; 23,395 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 15 | |
| Columbia County | 14 | |
| Tillamook County | 22 | |
| Pacific County, WA | 24 | |
| Wahkiakum County, WA | 30 |
Common questions about Clatsop County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Clatsop County?
Tsunami has the highest expected yearly losses in Clatsop County, about $99.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $20.6 million.
How many federal disasters has Clatsop County had?
Clatsop County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2026.
Is Clatsop County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively High, 5th 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 Clatsop County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 21 homes in Clatsop 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 Clatsop County had?
NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Clatsop County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on October 3, 1967. The weather service has also logged 4 hail reports and 7 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.