Linn County, Oregon
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- 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.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | 97.5 | $38M | ||
| Inland flooding | 86.3 | $28M | ||
| Heat wave | 85.8 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 86.3 | $2M | ||
| Lightning | 70.0 | $492K | ||
| Cold wave | 33.4 | $485K | ||
| Tornado | 15.7 | $152K | ||
| Winter weather | 63.6 | $101K | ||
| Ice storm | 53.8 | $98K | ||
| Hail | 23.0 | $83K | ||
| Wildfire | 58.4 | $75K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 91.9 | $34K | ||
| Landslide | 79.3 | $14K | ||
| Drought | 17.0 | $2K | ||
| Avalanche | 38.0 | $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
Most recent
Show all 19
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2017 | EF1 | Lacomb | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 28, 2007 | EF0 | Lebanon | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 4, 2009 | EF0 | Peoria | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 22, 1994 | F0 | Albany | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 18, 2023 | EF0 | Harrisburg | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 7, 2015 | Heavy Rain | Sweet Home | $1M |
| Jan 19, 2012 | Flood | Millersburg | $1M |
| Sep 19, 2017 | Tornado | Lacomb | $240K |
| Apr 22, 1998 | Lightning | Sodaville | $200K |
| Sep 28, 2007 | Tornado | Lebanon | $42K |
| Sep 18, 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Whitaker | $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 ›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
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 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 | |
| Marion County | 13 | |
| Deschutes County | 18 | |
| Benton County | 13 | |
| Polk County | 13 | |
| Jefferson County | 20 |
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.