Klamath County, Oregon
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Klamath County, Oregon has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 78% of US counties. It ranks 19th of 36 counties in Oregon. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $33 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $470 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (Wrights Spring Fire). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (51 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $207,000 on 10 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Klamath County
- 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 78.5 | $15M | ||
| Earthquake | 94.5 | $11M | ||
| Wildfire | 94.4 | $3M | ||
| Cold wave | 68.9 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 69.9 | $771K | ||
| Avalanche | 81.9 | $457K | ||
| Winter weather | 92.6 | $425K | ||
| Lightning | 47.9 | $184K | ||
| Hail | 25.3 | $81K | ||
| Strong wind | 6.8 | $39K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 91.5 | $26K | ||
| Ice storm | 21.0 | $15K | ||
| Tornado | 4.3 | $12K | ||
| Drought | 24.7 | $10K | ||
| Landslide | 59.4 | $2K |
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 moderate 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 Klamath 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 1961
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 93 storm reports in Klamath County since 1961 and about $58,500 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on May 19, 1962.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 1962 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 30, 1995 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 17, 2004 | F0 | Klamath Falls Arpt | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 17, 2007 | EF0 | Keno | 0 / 0 |
| May 28, 2019 | EF0 | Sprague River | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25, 2025 | Flood | Bly | $25K |
| May 30, 1995 | Tornado | – | $20K |
| Aug 16, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Klamath Falls | $10K |
| May 19, 1962 | Tornado | – | $3K |
| Aug 21, 2005 | Hail | Crescent | $1K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 30, 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 Klamath 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 Klamath 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; 33,162 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lane County | 21 | |
| Jackson County | 19 | |
| Deschutes County | 18 | |
| Douglas County | 24 | |
| Siskiyou County, CA | 21 | |
| Modoc County, CA | 15 | |
| Lake County | 10 |
Common questions about Klamath County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Klamath County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Klamath County, about $15.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $10.8 million.
How many federal disasters has Klamath County had?
Klamath County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Wrights Spring Fire in August 2026.
Is Klamath County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 19th 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 Klamath County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Klamath 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 Klamath County had?
NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Klamath County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on May 19, 1962. The weather service has also logged 33 hail reports and 10 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.