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Yamhill County, Oregon

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
16th of 36highest risk in Oregon
$56Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 100homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Yamhill County, Oregon has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 83% of US counties. It ranks 16th of 36 counties in Oregon. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $56 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $527 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (355 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.2 million on 108 claims here, including $715,000 for floods in 2007.

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

Top risks in Yamhill County

Earthquake

Moderate
$33.6 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.
$17.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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
$3 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
EarthquakeModerate96.9
$34M
Inland floodingModerate74.1
$18M
Heat waveModerate88.3
$3M
Strong windLow43.7
$514K
Cold waveVery Low21.7
$291K
TornadoVery Low18.4
$237K
Ice stormModerate68.7
$232K
LightningLow38.0
$167K
WildfireVery Low52.1
$59K
LandslideModerate87.9
$50K
Winter weatherLow29.5
$33K
HailVery Low9.3
$32K
Volcanic activityLow84.4
$3K
AvalancheVery Low6.9
$4
DroughtVery Low12.5
$3

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood3
Fire2
Earthquake1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Apr 7, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 13, 2024Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 4, 2021Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2020Wildfires and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2020Chehalem Mountain Bald Peak FireFire management
Feb 17, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 2, 2009Severe Winter Storm, Record and Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Dec 8, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 22, 2007Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 20, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 17
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 19, 2004Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Mar 19, 1996Severe Storms and High WindsMajor disaster
Feb 9, 1996High Winds, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
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 1971

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 27 storm reports in Yamhill County since 1971 and about $12.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on December 8, 1993.

4tornadoes
0hail reports
1damaging thunderstorm winds
6floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 8, 1993F2–0 / 0
Jun 13, 2013EF1Mc Minnville0 / 0
May 25, 1971F0–0 / 0
Apr 18, 1984F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Dec 4, 2007FloodMc Minnville$10M
Jan 20, 2012FloodLafayette$2M
Dec 7, 2015Heavy RainMc Minnville$749K
Dec 8, 2015Heavy RainSheridan$146K
Jun 13, 2013TornadoMc Minnville$100K
May 25, 1971Tornado–$3K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Dec 20, 2020. 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 Yamhill County

Check your address flood zone ›
1%of homes have federal flood insurance (355 policies)
20.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.2 millionpaid on 108 flood claims since 1978
2007costliest year, with $714,853 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 Yamhill County

$471,700median home value (Oregon $477,600, US $332,700)
1990median year homes were built (Oregon 1981, US 1980)
38%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.9%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; 41,200 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
Washington CountyHigh15
Clackamas CountyHigh21
Marion CountyHigh13
Polk CountyLow13
Tillamook CountyModerate22

Cities in Yamhill County

Common questions about Yamhill County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Yamhill County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Yamhill County, about $33.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $17.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Yamhill County had?

Yamhill County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2026.

Is Yamhill County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 16th 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 Yamhill County?

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

NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Yamhill County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on December 8, 1993. The weather service has also logged 0 hail reports and 6 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.