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Union County, Oregon

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

Relatively Low overall risk
24th of 36highest risk in Oregon
$12Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 100homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Union County, Oregon has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 56% of US counties. It ranks 24th of 36 counties in Oregon. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $475 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 August 2026 (Hagen Fire). About 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (80 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $165,000 on 21 claims here.

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

Top risks in Union County

Cold wave

Moderate
$4.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 195 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveModerate83.6
$4M
Inland floodingLow37.5
$4M
WildfireModerate91.9
$2M
EarthquakeLow76.7
$1M
AvalancheModerate83.5
$656K
Heat waveLow46.1
$276K
Winter weatherModerate80.3
$192K
Strong windVery Low16.2
$124K
LightningLow30.3
$99K
Ice stormLow49.8
$76K
HailVery Low21.3
$69K
TornadoVery Low6.1
$25K
LandslideLow66.1
$4K
DroughtVery Low16.0
$909

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood3
Severe Storm2
Drought1
Coastal Storm1
Fire1

Most recent

Aug 9, 2026Hagen FireFire management
Apr 7, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 3, 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 19, 2004Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 9, 1996High Winds, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 29, 1977DroughtEmergency
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 144 storm reports in Union County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $3.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on June 21, 1983.

1tornadoes
90hail reports, largest 2 inches
20damaging thunderstorm winds
11floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 21, 1983F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 15, 2011FloodPerry$2M
Feb 6, 2020FloodPerry$750K
Jul 19, 2004Thunderstorm WindLa Grande$300K
Apr 8, 2019FloodUnion$300K
Jul 7, 2012Thunderstorm WindSummerville$100K
Aug 13, 1999LightningImbler$46K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 5, 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 Union County

Check your address flood zone ›
1%of homes have federal flood insurance (80 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$165,391paid on 21 flood claims since 1978
2020costliest year, with $45,430 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 Union County

$294,600median home value (Oregon $477,600, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Oregon 1981, US 1980)
61%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.2%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; 11,829 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
Umatilla CountyModerate13
Baker CountyLow10
Wallowa CountyVery Low9
Grant CountyVery Low13

Common questions about Union County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Union County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Union County, about $4.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $4 million.

How many federal disasters has Union County had?

Union County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Hagen Fire in August 2026.

Is Union County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 24th 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 Union County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 100 homes in Union 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 Union County had?

NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Union County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on June 21, 1983. The weather service has also logged 90 hail reports and 11 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.