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Klamath County, Oregon

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

Relatively Low overall risk
19th of 36highest risk in Oregon
$33Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$15.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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
$10.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 60 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Wildfire

Moderate
$2.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 175 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 floodingModerate78.5
$15M
EarthquakeModerate94.5
$11M
WildfireModerate94.4
$3M
Cold waveModerate68.9
$2M
Heat waveLow69.9
$771K
AvalancheModerate81.9
$457K
Winter weatherHigh92.6
$425K
LightningLow47.9
$184K
HailVery Low25.3
$81K
Strong windVery Low6.8
$39K
Volcanic activityLow91.5
$26K
Ice stormVery Low21.0
$15K
TornadoVery Low4.3
$12K
DroughtVery Low24.7
$10K
LandslideVery Low59.4
$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

Fire11
Flood1
Drought1
Earthquake1
Severe Storm1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Aug 9, 2026Wrights Spring FireFire management
Sep 2, 2024Copperfield FireFire management
Jul 23, 2023Golden FireFire management
Jul 10, 2021Bootleg FireFire management
Sep 15, 2020Wildfires and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2020WildfiresEmergency
Sep 8, 2020Two Four Two FireFire management
Aug 4, 2017Pipeline FireFire management
Aug 1, 2014Oregon Gulch FireFire management
Jul 14, 2014Moccasin Hills FireFire management
Show all 16
Sep 17, 2008Royce Butte FireFire management
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 23, 1997Severe Winter Storms, Land and Mudslides, FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 15, 1993EarthquakesMajor disaster
Apr 29, 1977DroughtEmergency
Dec 24, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

5tornadoes
33hail reports, largest 2 inches
16damaging thunderstorm winds
10floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 19, 1962F1–0 / 0
May 30, 1995F0–0 / 0
Apr 17, 2004F0Klamath Falls Arpt0 / 0
Apr 17, 2007EF0Keno0 / 0
May 28, 2019EF0Sprague River0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 25, 2025FloodBly$25K
May 30, 1995Tornado–$20K
Aug 16, 2008Thunderstorm WindKlamath Falls$10K
May 19, 1962Tornado–$3K
Aug 21, 2005HailCrescent$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 ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (51 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$207,434paid on 10 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $176,721 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 Klamath County

$280,400median home value (Oregon $477,600, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (Oregon 1981, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.5%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; 33,162 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
Deschutes CountyModerate18
Douglas CountyModerate24
Siskiyou County, CAModerate21
Modoc County, CAVery Low15
Lake CountyVery Low10

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.