St. Helens, OR
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
St. Helens is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk — lower risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Columbia County, OR. The county's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, heat wave, and landslide.
Storm events near St. Helens
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of St. Helens's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to St. Helens itself, not the whole county.
County-wide hazard risk
Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Columbia County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering St. Helens along with the rest of the county, not a St. Helens-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 30.5 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 68.2 | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flooding | 50.4 | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | 94.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | 90.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 13.3 | Very Low |
| Avalanche | 4.7 | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | 30.8 | Relatively Low |
| Drought | 0 | No Rating |
| Hail | 4.8 | Very Low |
| Hurricane | — | Not Applicable |
| Ice Storm | 38.8 | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | 89.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | 4 | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | 23.7 | Relatively Low |
| Tsunami | — | Insufficient Data |
| Volcanic Activity | 81.8 | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | 27.1 | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Columbia County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Columbia County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is St. Helens, OR at risk of?
St. Helens is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — lower risk than most US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Columbia County, where St. Helens is located, are earthquake, heat wave, and landslide.
What is St. Helens's biggest natural hazard risk?
Earthquake is the highest-rated hazard for Columbia County, where St. Helens is located, scoring 94.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively Moderate").
Is St. Helens a high-risk area for natural disasters?
No — St. Helens carries lower risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Low" for Columbia County.
Has St. Helens had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 9 tornado, 2 hail, 22 inland flooding events within 25 miles of St. Helens since 2016.