Baker County, OR
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Baker County has experienced 12 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Fox Fire in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Baker County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, avalanche, and landslide, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Baker County has been designated in 12 declarations since 1965, covering 6 disaster types including fire (5), biological (2), severe storm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Fire | Fox Fire |
| 2024 | Fire | Durkee Fire |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015 | Fire | Dry Gulch Fire |
| 2015 | Fire | Cornet And Windy Ridge Fire Complex |
| 2006 | Fire | Foster Gulch Fire Complex |
| 2005 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Land And Mudslides, Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 12 total declarations since 1965.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | 96.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 47.8 | 2 | 0 | $250K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 78.7 | 8 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 40.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 5.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 38.3 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 10 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 75.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 19.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 17 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 23.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 16.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 83.1 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Relatively High | 91.2 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 19.2 | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Baker County ranks in the 48th percentile (Low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 48th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 51st | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 45th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 32nd | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 52nd | Moderate |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 94th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 94th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 56.5% | — |
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Baker County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Baker County, Oregon are wildfire, avalanche, and landslide. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Baker County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Baker County has received 12 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is fire (5 declarations).
Has Baker County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Baker County include Fox Fire (2026), Durkee Fire (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1965.
How does Baker County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Union County, OR has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Payette County, ID has the lowest (Very Low). Baker County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Baker County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Baker County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Baker County's composite score of 48 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 48% of US counties.