Curry County, Oregon
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Curry County, Oregon has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 86% of US counties. It ranks 13th of 36 counties in Oregon. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, tsunamis and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $44 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,883 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2025 (severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (144 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.3 million on 88 claims here, including $704,000 for floods in 2012.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Curry County
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- Learn the tsunami evacuation route signs.
- If you feel a strong quake near the coast, move to high ground right away.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | 96.7 | $18M | ||
| Tsunami | 89.2 | $17M | ||
| Inland flooding | 62.2 | $7M | ||
| Wildfire | 93.4 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 40.8 | $171K | ||
| Landslide | 92.0 | $54K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 48.4 | $52K | ||
| Lightning | 12.7 | $31K | ||
| Strong wind | 5.2 | $25K | ||
| Tornado | 3.1 | $5K | ||
| Winter weather | 8.3 | $4K | ||
| Hail | 3.0 | $4K | ||
| Ice storm | 4.9 | $2K | ||
| Avalanche | 44.4 | $256 | ||
| Drought | 14.2 | $211 |
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 high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Curry County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 14
Oregon also had 42 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1972
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 70 storm reports in Curry County since 1972 and about $4.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on November 9, 2002 near Brookings.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 9, 2002 | F0 | Brookings | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 22, 1983 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 24, 2010 | EF0 | Port Orford | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 29, 2012 | Flood | Gold Beach | $4M |
| Nov 9, 2002 | Tornado | Brookings | $500K |
| Feb 7, 1998 | Storm Surge/Tide | Port Orford | $300K |
| Mar 22, 1983 | Tornado | – | $25K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 16, 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 Curry 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 Curry 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; 13,215 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | 24 | |
| Josephine County | 23 | |
| Coos County | 17 | |
| Del Norte County, CA | 18 |
Common questions about Curry County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Curry County?
Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Curry County, about $18.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tsunami is second at $16.6 million.
How many federal disasters has Curry County had?
Curry County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in July 2025.
Is Curry County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 13th 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 Curry County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Curry 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 Curry County had?
NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Curry County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on November 9, 2002 near Brookings. The weather service has also logged 1 hail reports and 26 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.