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Wallowa County, Oregon

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

Very Low overall risk
26th of 36highest risk in Oregon
$8Mexpected losses a year
9federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Wallowa County, Oregon has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 66% of US counties. It ranks 26th of 36 counties in Oregon. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and avalanches. FEMA estimates about $7.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,065 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2020 (severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Only 44 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $17,000 on 16 claims here.

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

Top risks in Wallowa County

$4.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 190 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$914,047 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 15 years.
  • Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
  • Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow48.9
$5M
WildfireModerate92.7
$2M
AvalancheHigh87.1
$914K
Cold waveLow37.1
$421K
EarthquakeVery Low37.7
$95K
HailVery Low29.9
$85K
Winter weatherLow57.2
$60K
Heat waveVery Low22.8
$57K
LightningVery Low13.4
$34K
Ice stormLow31.4
$25K
Strong windVery Low4.4
$21K
TornadoVery Low4.3
$10K
LandslideLow78.4
$10K
DroughtVery Low14.9
$392

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 very high 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 Wallowa County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood4
Severe Storm2
Drought1
Coastal Storm1
Fire1

Most recent

Apr 3, 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 21, 2015Grizzly Bear Fire ComplexFire management
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 19, 2004Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 23, 1997Severe Winter Storms, Land and Mudslides, FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 1996High Winds, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 29, 1977DroughtEmergency
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 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 92 storm reports in Wallowa County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 4 injuries and about $26.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 11, 1968.

7tornadoes
39hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
17damaging thunderstorm winds
19floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 11, 1968F2–0 / 0
Jun 23, 1969F1–0 / 0
May 6, 2009EF0Wallowa0 / 0
Jul 22, 1992F0–0 / 0
Aug 21, 2006F0Enterprise0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 11, 1968Tornado–$25M
Jul 18, 2002Flash FloodJoseph$1M
Feb 7, 2020FloodTroy$129K
May 6, 2009TornadoWallowa$100K
Apr 9, 2019FloodWallowa$60K
May 24, 2001LightningEnterprise$40K

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 Wallowa County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (44 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$17,497paid on 16 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $11,934 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 Wallowa County

$394,800median home value (Oregon $477,600, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Oregon 1981, US 1980)
59%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.3%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; 4,349 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
Nez Perce County, IDVery Low13
Union CountyLow8
Asotin County, WAVery Low11
Baker CountyLow10
Idaho County, IDLow16
Adams County, IDVery Low7
Columbia County, WAVery Low14

Common questions about Wallowa County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Wallowa County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Wallowa County, about $4.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Wallowa County had?

Wallowa County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2020.

Is Wallowa County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 26th 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 Wallowa County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Wallowa 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 Wallowa County had?

NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Wallowa County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 11, 1968. The weather service has also logged 39 hail reports and 19 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.