Crook County, Oregon
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 41013 · population 24,712 · 2,979 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 328 records for Crook County, Oregon from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 250 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (127 records). 250 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the June 27, 2021 excessive heat, filed for the forecast zone Central Oregon, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 12 declarations naming the county since 1964, 10 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Rowe Creek Fire Complex” on July 31, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 328on 250 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 72 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $33Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 12latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Crook County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 127 since 2000. 57% of its winter storm records since 2000 fell in December and January. The rank column places the county among Oregon's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 127 | 108 | 2000-2025 | 1 | 0 | $1.8M | 28 of 36 |
| Hail | 52 | 26 | 1987-2023 | 0 | 0 | $29M | 10 of 36 |
| Wildfires | 49 | 41 | 2005-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 16 of 36 |
| High wind and dust storms | 45 | 39 | 1999-2021 | 3 | 0 | $517K | 31 of 36 |
| Extreme cold | 14 | 11 | 2002-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 36 |
| Heat | 12 | 10 | 2002-2022 | 2 | 0 | – | 26 of 36 |
| Floods | 9 | 8 | 1997-2023 | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | 28 of 36 |
| Heavy rain | 7 | 7 | 1998-2009 | 0 | 0 | – | 18 of 36 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 7 | 6 | 2004-2024 | 0 | 0 | $4K | 33 of 36 |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 1997-2016 | 0 | 0 | $123K | 16 of 36 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 2 | 2 | 2005-2010 | 1 | 2 | – | 23 of 36 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
When was the last damaging storm in Crook County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 27, 2021 excessive heat (2 deaths).
Calculated heat risk values at a GHCN in Bend, OR and at the Redmond Airport recorded several consecutive days between June 27th through June 30th of temperatures that met or exceeded excessive heat warning criteria. Many locations, including those of RAWS and NWS sites recorded multiple days of daily high temperatures over 105 degrees. In the Bend, OR area on June 28th, two fatalities reported were attributed to the excessive heat.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 968866)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-03-16 | Heavy SnowCrook County and 2 more · forecast zone Central Oregon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-13 | Heavy SnowCrook County and 2 more · forecast zone Central Oregon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-12 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillCrook County and 4 more · forecast zone Ochoco-John Day Highlands | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-03 | Heavy SnowCrook County and 2 more · forecast zone Central Oregon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-03 | Heavy SnowCrook County and 4 more · forecast zone Ochoco-John Day Highlands | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2021-06-27 | Excessive HeatCrook County and 2 more · forecast zone Central Oregon | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2020-09-07 | High WindCrook County and 4 more · forecast zone Ochoco-John Day Highlands | 52 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2019-02-23 | Heavy SnowCrook County and 2 more · forecast zone Central Oregon | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | |
| 2010-01-02 | AvalancheCrook County and Deschutes County · forecast zone Central Oregon | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2006-06-12 | HailPrineville, Crook County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $29M |
| 2005-12-30 | FloodCrook County and Deschutes County · forecast zone Central Oregon | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 2005-05-22 | AvalancheCrook County and Deschutes County · forecast zone Central Oregon | 0 | 2 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-06-27 | Excessive HeatCrook County and 2 more · forecast zone Central Oregon Calculated heat risk values at a GHCN in Bend, OR and at the Redmond Airport recorded several consecutive days between June 27th through June 30th of temperatures that met or exceeded excessive heat warning criteria. Many locations, including those of RAWS and NWS sites recorded multiple days of daily high ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2002-12-15 | High WindCrook County and Deschutes County · forecast zone Central Oregon A 57 foot tall Ponderosa pine tree was blown down by the wind onto a mobile home in Bend, killing two people in their sleep. Two additional homes and a motor vehicle were also damaged by the winds. Over 1,500 customers were left without power due to high winds blowing trees onto power lines and poles themselves being ... | 61 kt wind | 2 | 0 | – |
| 2020-09-07 | High WindCrook County and 4 more · forecast zone Ochoco-John Day Highlands Tree fell on individual in the Ochoco National Forest. | 52 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2010-01-02 | AvalancheCrook County and Deschutes County · forecast zone Central Oregon An avalanche, 200 feet wide, buried and killed a snowmobiler from La Pine, Oregon on Paulina Peak which is south of Bend. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2000-01-10 | Heavy SnowCrook County and Deschutes County · forecast zone Central Oregon 11 inches of new snow fell in La Pine at an elevation of 4200 ft in Deschutes County. Sisters received 9 inches and Sunriver had 6 inches. Mt. Bachelor recorded 29 inches of snow in 24 hours. This storm led to a fatality when icy roads caused a collision between a car and a logging truck on Highway 26 at the Ochoco ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2005-05-22 | AvalancheCrook County and Deschutes County · forecast zone Central Oregon An avalanche was triggered on Thayer Glacier on North Sister, or 14 miles southwest of the city of Sisters. Two climbers were caught in the avalanche and were seriously injured. Two blackhawk helicopters from the Oregon National Guard airlifted the injured climbers off the mountain. | 0 | 2 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-06-12 | HailPrineville, Crook County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $29M |
| 2019-02-23 | Heavy SnowCrook County and 2 more · forecast zone Central Oregon | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | |
| 2005-12-30 | FloodCrook County and Deschutes County · forecast zone Central Oregon | 0 | 0 | $1.5M |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Crook County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 56 | 49 | 22 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 33 | 10 | 2 |
| Wildfires | – | – | – | – | 0 | 24 | 24 | 1 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 0 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
57% of its winter storm records since 2000 fell in December and January. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 39 · Feb 28 · Mar 13 · Apr 8 · May 14 · Jun 25 · Jul 41 · Aug 50 · Sep 13 · Oct 9 · Nov 29 · Dec 59 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Crook County
FEMA's register lists 12 declarations that include Crook County: 6 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 3 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (3) and severe storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-31 | FM-5655 | Fire | Rowe Creek Fire Complex |
| 2025-07-13 | FM-5599 | Fire | Highland Fire |
| 2024-09-07 | FM-5534 | Fire | Rail Ridge Fire |
| 2020-03-28 | DR-4499 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3429 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011-02-17 | DR-1956 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Mudslides, Landslides, and Debris Flows |
| 2006-03-20 | DR-1632 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3228 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-02-19 | DR-1510 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 1998-06-12 | DR-1221 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1977-04-29 | EM-3039 | Drought | Drought |
| 1964-12-24 | DR-184 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Crook County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 9 flood or flash flood records for Crook County from 1997 to 2023, on 8 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Crook County ranks 1504th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $466,000 on 67 claims filed in Crook County; the most in one year was 61 in 1998. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1998: 61 · 2006: 1 · 2010: 1 · 2011: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Crook County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Crook County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.7 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | $3.2M | once in about 252 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $142K | 15 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $313K | 15 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | $101K | once in about 15 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $8K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $684K | once in about 290 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $304K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $4.5M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Crook County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Winter storms in OregonThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The Oregon recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Crook CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Crook County's FEMA declarations (CSV)12 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis