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Jackson County, Oregon

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
8th of 36highest risk in Oregon
$122Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Jackson County, Oregon has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 92% of US counties. It ranks 8th of 36 counties in Oregon. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $122 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $547 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (Fielder Mountain Fire). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,010 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.5 million on 304 claims here, including $1.1 million for floods in 1997.

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

Top risks in Jackson County

$54.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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
$35.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 80 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$25 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 90 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 floodingModerate93.1
$54M
EarthquakeModerate97.4
$35M
WildfireHigh99.0
$25M
Heat waveModerate94.9
$6M
Winter weatherVery High96.7
$905K
LightningModerate60.4
$336K
Strong windLow27.9
$265K
HailLow43.4
$202K
Cold waveVery Low8.7
$60K
LandslideLow86.5
$37K
TornadoVery Low6.5
$30K
Ice stormVery Low19.2
$15K
DroughtVery Low17.0
$2K
Volcanic activityVery Low77.5
$290
AvalancheVery Low32.5
$126

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 low 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 Jackson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire13
Flood2
Severe Storm2
Drought1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Aug 14, 2026Fielder Mountain FireFire management
Jun 18, 2025Upper Applegate Road FireFire management
Sep 15, 2020Wildfires and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2020WildfiresEmergency
Sep 9, 2020South Obenchain FireFire management
Sep 9, 2020Almeda Glendower FireFire management
Aug 24, 2018Ramsey Canyon FireFire management
Jul 19, 2018Garner Fire ComplexFire management
Aug 1, 2014Oregon Gulch FireFire management
Sep 22, 2009South County Fire ComplexFire management
Show all 19
Mar 20, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 6, 2003Or-Cove Road Fire-09-05-2003Fire management
Jul 28, 2002Timbered Rock FireFire management
Jul 17, 2002Or - Squire Peak/Wall Creek Fire - 07/17/02Fire management
Jan 23, 1997Severe Winter Storms, Land and Mudslides, FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 29, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jan 25, 1974Severe Storms, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 24, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

Oregon also had 42 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 155 storm reports in Jackson County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $2.7 million in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.

0tornadoes
63hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
44damaging thunderstorm winds
17floods and flash floods

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 2, 1997HailMedford Arpt$2M
Jul 16, 2024Thunderstorm WindPhoenix$160K
Jul 8, 2025Thunderstorm WindTable Rock$150K
Jul 11, 2007Thunderstorm WindRogue River$100K
May 31, 2009LightningVoorhies$100K
Jul 8, 1995Thunderstorm WindWimer$70K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 26, 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 Jackson County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (1,010 policies)
27.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.5 millionpaid on 304 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $1.1 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 Jackson County

$430,200median home value (Oregon $477,600, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Oregon 1981, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.6%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; 97,991 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
Douglas CountyModerate24
Josephine CountyModerate23
Klamath CountyLow16
Siskiyou County, CAModerate21

Cities in Jackson County

Common questions about Jackson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Jackson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Jackson County, about $54.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $35.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Jackson County had?

Jackson County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Fielder Mountain Fire in August 2026.

Is Jackson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 8th 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 Jackson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Jackson 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 Jackson County had?

NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Jackson County since 1950. The weather service has also logged 63 hail reports and 17 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.