Gilliam County, Oregon
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Gilliam County, Oregon has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 97% of US counties. It ranks 36th of 36 counties in Oregon. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and lightning. FEMA estimates about $1.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $965 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2025 (wildfires). Only 4 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Gilliam County
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- 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.
- Go indoors when you hear thunder.
- Use surge protectors for electronics.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 88.3 | $854K | ||
| Inland flooding | 7.0 | $791K | ||
| Lightning | 27.1 | $79K | ||
| Cold wave | 10.4 | $65K | ||
| Earthquake | 27.9 | $49K | ||
| Strong wind | 5.3 | $29K | ||
| Heat wave | 12.9 | $23K | ||
| Hail | 5.5 | $12K | ||
| Ice storm | 13.0 | $6K | ||
| Winter weather | 9.7 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 55.8 | $2K | ||
| Avalanche | 62.9 | $2K | ||
| Tornado | 1.4 | $1K | ||
| Drought | 15.8 | $711 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 51.1 | $11 |
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 low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Gilliam County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
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 23 storm reports in Gilliam County since 1957 and about $50.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on April 12, 1957.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 1957 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 9, 1995 | Hail | – | $50M |
| Apr 23, 2012 | Flash Flood | Mayville | $50K |
| Aug 5, 2003 | Flash Flood | Condon | $7K |
| Apr 12, 1957 | Tornado | – | $3K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 17, 2024. 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 Gilliam 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 Gilliam 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; 1,138 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wasco County | 24 | |
| Klickitat County, WA | 27 | |
| Morrow County | 8 | |
| Sherman County | 8 | |
| Wheeler County | 12 |
Common questions about Gilliam County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Gilliam County?
Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Gilliam County, about $853,664 a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $790,672.
How many federal disasters has Gilliam County had?
Gilliam County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Wildfires in January 2025.
Is Gilliam County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 36th 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 Gilliam County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Gilliam 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 Gilliam County had?
NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Gilliam County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on April 12, 1957. The weather service has also logged 11 hail reports and 2 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.