Malheur County, OR
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Malheur County has experienced 7 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Durkee Fire in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Malheur County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, winter weather, and landslide, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (99th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Malheur County has been designated in 7 declarations since 1965, covering 6 disaster types including biological (2), fire (1), coastal storm (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Fire | Durkee Fire |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2005 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 1977 | Drought | Drought |
| 1965 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
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 | 91.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 52 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 71.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 59.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 8.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 55 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 15.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 81.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 15.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 10.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 29.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 23.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 77.8 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | 70 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 52.8 | — | — | — |
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
Malheur County ranks in the 99th percentile (High) 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 | 99th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 94th | High |
| Household characteristics | 95th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 79th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 99th | High |
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 | 95th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 94th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 39.1% | — |
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 Malheur County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Malheur County, Oregon are wildfire, winter weather, and landslide. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Malheur County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Malheur County has received 7 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Malheur County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Malheur County include Durkee Fire (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1965.
How does Malheur County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Ada County, ID has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Payette County, ID has the lowest (Very Low). Malheur County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Malheur County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Malheur 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. Malheur County's composite score of 35 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 35% of US counties.