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Lane County, Oregon

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

Relatively High overall risk
2nd of 36highest risk in Oregon
$221Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 63homes with flood insurance
Photo: Rick Obst from Eugene, United States, CC BY 2.0

Lane County, Oregon has a relatively high overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 96% of US counties. It ranks 2nd of 36 counties in Oregon. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $221 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $578 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 62 homes here carry federal flood insurance (2,273 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.2 million on 454 claims here, including $2.4 million for floods in 1996.

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

Top risks in Lane County

$117 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.
$95.1 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$4.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingHigh97.2
$117M
EarthquakeHigh98.8
$95M
Heat waveModerate93.8
$5M
LightningHigh87.6
$1M
Cold waveLow44.0
$735K
Strong windModerate57.3
$650K
Ice stormHigh83.2
$505K
Winter weatherHigh87.0
$313K
Coastal floodingLow55.2
$288K
TornadoVery Low21.0
$248K
TsunamiVery Low29.2
$240K
Volcanic activityModerate94.5
$197K
WildfireLow68.7
$155K
HailVery Low30.7
$119K
LandslideModerate88.4
$45K
DroughtVery Low16.5
$1K
AvalancheVery Low49.0
$482

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood6
Fire4
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Apr 7, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 13, 2024Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 27, 2023Cedar Creek FireFire management
Sep 15, 2020Wildfires and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2020WildfiresEmergency
Sep 8, 2020Holiday Farm FireFire management
May 2, 2019Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 25, 2017Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 4, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Show all 21
Mar 2, 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
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 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 105 storm reports in Lane County since 1951, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on November 24, 1989.

7tornadoes
15hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
17damaging thunderstorm winds
35floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 24, 1989F1–0 / 0
Dec 6, 1951F1–0 / 0
Dec 5, 1996F0Eugene0 / 0
May 14, 1984F0–0 / 0
Apr 14, 2015EF0Eugene0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 18, 2012FloodMapleton$2M
Sep 1, 1996WildfireOakridge$2M
Aug 24, 1996WildfireOakridge$2M
Jan 19, 2012FloodMarcola$1M
Dec 17, 2015FloodSpringfield$499K
Dec 7, 2015FloodMapleton$395K

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 Lane County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (2,273 policies)
16.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.2 millionpaid on 454 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $2.4 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 Lane County

$430,600median home value (Oregon $477,600, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Oregon 1981, US 1980)
55%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.1%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; 169,788 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
Deschutes CountyModerate18
Linn CountyModerate19
Douglas CountyModerate24
Benton CountyModerate13
Klamath CountyLow16
Lincoln CountyModerate21

Cities in Lane County

Common questions about Lane County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lane County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Lane County, about $117 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $95.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Lane County had?

Lane County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2026.

Is Lane County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively High, 2nd 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 Lane County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 63 homes in Lane 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 Lane County had?

NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Lane County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on November 24, 1989. The weather service has also logged 15 hail reports and 35 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.