Sherman County, Oregon
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Sherman County, Oregon has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 97% of US counties. It ranks 35th of 36 counties in Oregon. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $2.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,387 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2024 (severe winter storms, straight-line winds, landslides and mudslides). Only 1 home here carries federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Sherman County
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 90.2 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 4.6 | $694K | ||
| Earthquake | 33.6 | $105K | ||
| Ice storm | 53.1 | $102K | ||
| Cold wave | 9.9 | $76K | ||
| Lightning | 15.1 | $54K | ||
| Strong wind | 3.4 | $19K | ||
| Hail | 5.6 | $15K | ||
| Heat wave | 7.7 | $12K | ||
| Winter weather | 7.5 | $6K | ||
| Avalanche | 63.0 | $2K | ||
| Tornado | 1.5 | $1K | ||
| Drought | 16.1 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 41.5 | $766 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 74.6 | $149 |
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 relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Sherman 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 1963
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 18 storm reports in Sherman County since 1963, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $50,000 in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Grass Vly | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 17, 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 Sherman 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 Sherman 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; 969 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wasco County | 24 | |
| Klickitat County, WA | 27 | |
| Gilliam County | 10 |
Common questions about Sherman County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Sherman County?
Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Sherman County, about $1.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $694,483.
How many federal disasters has Sherman County had?
Sherman County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2024.
Is Sherman County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 35th 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 Sherman County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Sherman 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 Sherman County had?
NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Sherman County since 1950. The weather service has also logged 8 hail reports and 1 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.