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Linn County, Oregon

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
12th of 36highest risk in Oregon
$71Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Linn County, Oregon has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 88% of US counties. It ranks 12th of 36 counties in Oregon. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $71 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $553 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (511 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.8 million on 137 claims here, including $691,000 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 Linn County

Earthquake

Moderate
$38.2 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.
$27.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeModerate97.5
$38M
Inland floodingModerate86.3
$28M
Heat waveModerate85.8
$2M
Strong windHigh86.3
$2M
LightningModerate70.0
$492K
Cold waveLow33.4
$485K
TornadoVery Low15.7
$152K
Winter weatherModerate63.6
$101K
Ice stormLow53.8
$98K
HailVery Low23.0
$83K
WildfireVery Low58.4
$75K
Volcanic activityLow91.9
$34K
LandslideLow79.3
$14K
DroughtVery Low17.0
$2K
AvalancheVery Low38.0
$202

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 Linn County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood5
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
May 4, 2021Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2020Wildfires and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2020WildfiresEmergency
Sep 8, 2020Beachie Creek Lionshead Fire ComplexFire management
Jul 9, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 4, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 2, 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 19
Mar 20, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 19, 2004Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Aug 20, 2003Or-Booth Fire-8-19-2003Fire management
Mar 12, 2002Severe Winter Storm With High WindsMajor disaster
Mar 19, 1996Severe Storms and High WindsMajor disaster
Feb 9, 1996High Winds, Severe Storms and 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 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 47 storm reports in Linn County since 1958, with 2 deaths and 1 injury and about $2.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on September 19, 2017 near Lacomb.

5tornadoes
11hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
7damaging thunderstorm winds
9floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 19, 2017EF1Lacomb0 / 0
Sep 28, 2007EF0Lebanon0 / 0
Jun 4, 2009EF0Peoria0 / 0
Mar 22, 1994F0Albany0 / 0
Jun 18, 2023EF0Harrisburg0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Dec 7, 2015Heavy RainSweet Home$1M
Jan 19, 2012FloodMillersburg$1M
Sep 19, 2017TornadoLacomb$240K
Apr 22, 1998LightningSodaville$200K
Sep 28, 2007TornadoLebanon$42K
Sep 18, 2020Thunderstorm WindWhitaker$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Feb 26, 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 Linn County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (511 policies)
19.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.8 millionpaid on 137 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $690,814 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 Linn County

$376,400median home value (Oregon $477,600, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Oregon 1981, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.4%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; 53,315 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
Marion CountyHigh13
Deschutes CountyModerate18
Benton CountyModerate13
Polk CountyLow13
Jefferson CountyVery Low20

Cities in Linn County

Common questions about Linn County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Linn County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Linn County, about $38.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $27.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Linn County had?

Linn County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2026.

Is Linn County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 12th 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 Linn County?

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

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Linn County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on September 19, 2017 near Lacomb. The weather service has also logged 11 hail reports and 9 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.