Morrow County, Oregon
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Morrow County, Oregon has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 74% of US counties. It ranks 31st of 36 counties in Oregon. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $9.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $770 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Battle Mountain Fire Complex). Only 32 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Morrow County
- 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 40.1 | $5M | ||
| Wildfire | 92.0 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 31.9 | $494K | ||
| Earthquake | 57.9 | $438K | ||
| Heat wave | 50.3 | $405K | ||
| Ice storm | 78.3 | $383K | ||
| Hail | 37.7 | $175K | ||
| Strong wind | 13.4 | $117K | ||
| Lightning | 15.6 | $57K | ||
| Winter weather | 41.7 | $51K | ||
| Tornado | 4.2 | $14K | ||
| Landslide | 71.1 | $7K | ||
| Drought | 21.1 | $6K | ||
| Avalanche | 47.1 | $448 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 63.2 | $51 |
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 low and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Morrow County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Oregon also had 42 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1957
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 64 storm reports in Morrow County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $2.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on May 19, 2006 near Boardman.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 2006 | F1 | Boardman | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 14, 2011 | EF0 | Lexington | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 2006 | Hail | Boardman | $1M |
| May 19, 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boardman | $500K |
| Jun 29, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Munley | $350K |
| Aug 24, 2000 | Lightning | Heppner | $120K |
| May 14, 2011 | Flash Flood | Heppner | $94K |
| Jun 2, 2011 | Flash Flood | Heppner | $70K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 7, 2023. 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 Morrow 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 Morrow 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; 4,912 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Benton County, WA | 18 | |
| Umatilla County | 13 | |
| Klickitat County, WA | 27 | |
| Grant County | 13 | |
| Gilliam County | 10 | |
| Wheeler County | 12 |
Common questions about Morrow County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Morrow County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Morrow County, about $5.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $2 million.
How many federal disasters has Morrow County had?
Morrow County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Battle Mountain Fire Complex in July 2024.
Is Morrow County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 31st 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 Morrow County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Morrow 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 Morrow County had?
NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Morrow County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on May 19, 2006 near Boardman. The weather service has also logged 31 hail reports and 8 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.