Polk County, OR
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Polk County has experienced 15 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Polk County's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, heat wave, and volcanic activity, 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. Polk County has been designated in 15 declarations since 1965, covering 4 disaster types including severe storm (8), flood (4), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2021 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2012 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Record And Near Record Snow |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
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 | 43.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 68.2 | 11 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 95.4 | 5 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 87.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 12.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 7.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 11.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 34.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 64.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 15.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 33.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 12.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 83.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 14.6 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 84 | — | — | — |
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
Polk County ranks in the 64th percentile (Moderate) 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 | 64th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 46th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 78th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 60th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 68th | 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 | 25th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 25th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 37.3% | — |
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 Polk County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Polk County, Oregon are earthquake, heat wave, and volcanic activity. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Polk County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Polk County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (8 declarations).
Has Polk County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Polk County include Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1965.
How does Polk County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Washington County, OR has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Tillamook County, OR has the lowest (Relatively Moderate). Polk County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Polk County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Polk 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. Polk County's composite score of 73 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 73% of US counties.