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Douglas County, Oregon

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
7th of 36highest risk in Oregon
$94Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 56homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Douglas County, Oregon has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 93% of US counties. It ranks 7th of 36 counties in Oregon. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $94 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $847 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2025 (severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 56 homes here carry federal flood insurance (883 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.9 million on 300 claims here, including $2.0 million for floods in 2025.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Douglas County

$56 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.

Earthquake

Moderate
$25.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 70 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$8.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 185 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingHigh95.2
$56M
EarthquakeModerate97.3
$26M
WildfireHigh97.8
$8M
Heat waveModerate87.5
$2M
Coastal floodingModerate62.8
$490K
AvalancheModerate82.7
$457K
TsunamiVery Low41.5
$320K
Ice stormModerate76.1
$228K
Winter weatherModerate84.0
$190K
Strong windLow24.3
$167K
LightningLow46.2
$150K
LandslideModerate95.4
$106K
HailVery Low23.1
$62K
TornadoVery Low6.4
$22K
Volcanic activityLow85.3
$2K
Cold waveVery Low3.3
$908
DroughtVery Low16.3
$906

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Douglas County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood7
Fire7
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jul 22, 2025Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2020Wildfires and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2020WildfiresEmergency
Sep 9, 2020Archie Creek FireFire management
Jul 27, 2019Mile Post 97 FireFire management
Jul 9, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 2, 2019Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jul 31, 2015Stouts Creek FireFire management
Jul 28, 2013Douglas Fire ComplexFire management
Show all 24
Mar 2, 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2011Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Mudslides, Landslides, and Debris FlowsMajor disaster
Mar 20, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 21, 2004Or-Bland Mountain Wildfire-08-20-2004Fire management
Feb 19, 2004Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Mar 12, 2002Severe Winter Storm With High WindsMajor disaster
Jan 23, 1997Severe Winter Storms, Land and Mudslides, FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 23, 1996Flooding, Land, Mud Slides, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Mar 19, 1996Severe Storms and High WindsMajor disaster
Feb 9, 1996High Winds, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor 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 1982

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 59 storm reports in Douglas County since 1982 and about $21,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF0 tornado on June 18, 2013 near Winchester.

1tornadoes
12hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
10damaging thunderstorm winds
23floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 18, 2013EF0Winchester0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 2, 2009Thunderstorm WindRoseburg$10K
Aug 11, 2014Thunderstorm WindSutherlin$10K
Jun 18, 2013TornadoWinchester$1K

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 Douglas County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (883 policies)
19.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.9 millionpaid on 300 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $2 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 Douglas County

$310,300median home value (Oregon $477,600, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Oregon 1981, US 1980)
57%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.3%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; 50,562 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
Lane CountyHigh21
Jackson CountyModerate19
Josephine CountyModerate23
Klamath CountyLow16
Coos CountyModerate17
Curry CountyModerate14

Common questions about Douglas County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Douglas County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Douglas County, about $56 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $25.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Douglas County had?

Douglas County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in July 2025.

Is Douglas County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 7th 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 Douglas County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 56 homes in Douglas 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 Douglas County had?

NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Douglas County since 1950. The strongest was an EF0 tornado on June 18, 2013 near Winchester. The weather service has also logged 12 hail reports and 23 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.