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Marion County, Oregon

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

Relatively High overall risk
4th of 36highest risk in Oregon
$171Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 77homes with flood insurance
Photo: Oregon Department of Transportation, CC BY 2.0

Marion 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 4th of 36 counties in Oregon. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $171 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $497 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2023 (Liberty Fire). About 1 in 77 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,169 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.0 million on 400 claims here, including $2.5 million for floods in 2012.

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

Top risks in Marion County

$122 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 50 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$37.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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
$6.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeHigh99.1
$122M
Inland floodingModerate90.5
$37M
Heat waveModerate95.9
$7M
Strong windHigh89.9
$2M
LightningHigh88.2
$986K
Cold waveLow52.0
$932K
TornadoVery Low22.5
$268K
Ice stormModerate73.6
$245K
Winter weatherModerate79.0
$180K
HailLow41.6
$172K
Volcanic activityModerate92.8
$84K
WildfireVery Low59.9
$75K
LandslideLow83.6
$23K
DroughtVery Low16.3
$1K
AvalancheVery Low33.0
$122

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood4
Fire4
Severe Storm3
Earthquake1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Aug 24, 2023Liberty FireFire management
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
Mar 2, 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 2, 2009Severe Winter Storm, Record and Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 19, 2004Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 9, 1996High Winds, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 13
Apr 26, 1993EarthquakeMajor disaster
Jan 25, 1974Severe Storms, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 24, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

Oregon also had 42 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 71 storm reports in Marion County since 1960, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $6.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on December 14, 2010 near Aumsville.

11tornadoes
5hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
10damaging thunderstorm winds
23floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 14, 2010EF2Aumsville2 / 0
Mar 8, 1960F1–0 / 0
Oct 12, 2017EF0Aurora Arpt0 / 0
Nov 12, 1991F0–0 / 0
Oct 24, 2022EF0West Woodburn0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 12, 2001WildfireBreitenbush$4M
Dec 14, 2010TornadoAumsville$1M
Jan 20, 2012FloodOrville$1M
May 17, 2014LightningWoodburn$75K
Oct 12, 2017TornadoAurora Arpt$40K
Nov 12, 1991Tornado–$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Feb 25, 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 Marion County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (1,169 policies)
29.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6 millionpaid on 400 flood claims since 1978
2012costliest year, with $2.5 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 Marion County

$416,400median home value (Oregon $477,600, US $332,700)
1979median year homes were built (Oregon 1981, US 1980)
51%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.4%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; 132,295 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
Clackamas CountyHigh21
Linn CountyModerate19
Yamhill CountyModerate17
Polk CountyLow13
Wasco CountyLow24
Jefferson CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Marion County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Marion County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Marion County, about $122 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $37.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Marion County had?

Marion County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Liberty Fire in August 2023.

Is Marion County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively High, 4th 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 Marion County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 77 homes in Marion 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 Marion County had?

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Marion County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on December 14, 2010 near Aumsville. The weather service has also logged 5 hail reports and 23 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.