Marion County, OR
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Marion County has experienced 15 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Liberty Fire in 2023. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Marion County's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, heat wave, and volcanic activity, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (90th 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. Marion County has been designated in 15 declarations since 1965, covering 6 disaster types including fire (4), flood (4), severe storm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Fire | Liberty Fire |
| 2021 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Fire | Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2020 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2020 | Fire | Beachie Creek Lionshead Fire Complex |
| 2012 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Record And Near Record Snow |
| 2005 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 15 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 | Very Low | 59.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 90.5 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively High | 99.1 | 7 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 95.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 22.5 | 3 | 0 | $65K |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 41.6 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 89.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 79 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 73.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 52 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 88.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 16.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 83.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 33 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Relatively Moderate | 92.8 | — | — | — |
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
Marion County ranks in the 90th 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 | 90th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 78th | High |
| Household characteristics | 86th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 75th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 95th | 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 | 45th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 44th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 25.4% | — |
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 Marion County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Marion County, Oregon are earthquake, heat wave, and volcanic activity. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Has Marion County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Marion County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2023. The most common disaster type on record is fire (4 declarations).
Has Marion County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Marion County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Liberty Fire in 2023.
How does Marion County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Multnomah County, OR has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Polk County, OR has the lowest (Relatively Low). Marion County is rated Relatively High overall.
How is Marion County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Marion 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. Marion County's composite score of 96 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 96% of US counties.