FEMA Records
26
High volume
Oregon · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Wasco County, OR
26 FEMA disaster declarations (1965-2026), with a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low. Most common hazard: Fire.
- 26
- FEMA declarations
- 11
- Major disasters
- 68
- NRI risk · Relatively Low
- Fire
- Top hazard
The verdict
Two federal records point in the busier direction for Wasco County. Its 26 FEMA declarations are 56% above the Oregon county mean and exceed the count for 75% of the 3,266 counties in this registry. Separately, FEMA's National Risk Index places it in the riskiest 32%, based on modeled expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
- Riskiest 32%
- of U.S. counties for FEMA National Risk Index score
- Relatively Low
- FEMA National Risk Index rating
- 26
- FEMA declarations vs 21 national county avg
- 10
- NFIP flood insurance claims filed
FEMA's National Risk Index and its declaration registry are separate measures. This county's registry includes Fire Management Assistance (FM) records, which are not presidential disaster declarations, alongside Major Disaster (DR) and Emergency (EM) records.
FEMA OpenFEMA declaration desk
County FIPS 41065 · Wasco County 26 declarations · rank 730/3,266
DECL-HEAVY · MAJOR-LIGHT · RANK-MID · PHOTO-FINISH · NRI-LOW · ACT-HIGH · TYPE-LEAD · VS-ST-HIGH
- DECL-HEAVY 26
- MAJOR-LIGHT 42%
- RANK-MID #730
- PHOTO-FINISH Hunterdon
- NRI-LOW 68
- ACT-HIGH High
- TYPE-LEAD Fire
- VS-ST-HIGH +56%
Nearest declaration peer: Hunterdon, NJ (0 declaration gap)
FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 filing stamps for this county register. Read with this county → · Oregon state profile
Wasco County among high-volume declaration counties
FEMA declaration records among Wasco County and nearest peers by total count
- Los Angeles · largest
Los Angeles · largest
88 declarations
- Hunterdon · near 26
Hunterdon · near
26 declarations
- Pierce · near 26
Pierce · near
26 declarations
- San Sebastián · near 26
San Sebastián · near
26 declarations
- Wasco · this county 26
Wasco · this county
26 declarations
- Ujelang · smallest 1
Ujelang · smallest
1 declarations
What this shows Wasco County carries 26 FEMA declaration records, ranked 730 of 3,266 counties in this registry.
Where Wasco County ranks in the national declaration registry
Wasco County vs. high-volume counties in this registry
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time · Wasco County
26 Top 25% higher than 75% of 3,266 counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 · 2026-08-25
Wasco County's FEMA Risk Index score
What does Wasco County's hazard record show?
FEMA National Risk Index
This county carries a high composite score on FEMA's National Risk Index, 67.8/100, rated Relatively Low. Its Expected Annual Loss rating is Relatively Low (roughly $28.9M in annualized losses), and a Relatively Low social-vulnerability profile combined with Relatively Moderate community resilience shapes how much of that raw exposure becomes realized harm. Of the 18 hazards FEMA models, Wildfire stands out as the sharpest exposure here, rated Relatively High. FEMA's modeled frequency puts that hazard at roughly once every 58 years here.
Reading the federal records together
This county has a small entry in FEMA's NFIP paid-claims table: 10 claims and $93.8K paid in total. PlainHazard calls 1-49 claims a light registry record, a label for this dataset rather than a finding that flood exposure is low. A short claims history can also reflect insurance take-up, the period covered, or losses that were never insured.
The declaration register points in the busier direction. Wasco County's 26 federal records stand 56% above the Oregon county mean of 16.6. That comparison describes how often federal action was recorded, including any Major Disaster, Emergency, and Fire Management entries shown on this page; it does not convert the count into future probability.
65 /100
Historical Activity Index
High historical activity
Wasco County, OR · PlainHazard-derived composite from federal records
This 0–100 index is an explicit PlainHazard composite from FEMA declaration history only on the county surface (this DB has no county-level NOAA damage row) . It is not FEMA's National Risk Index, not a forecast, and not a safety, insurance, or preparedness rating. Open the calculator · Methodology
FEMA Declarations (1953–present) High
19/30
26 OpenFEMA declarations, full ingest window (1.3x national county average)
County Disaster Density Very High
20/25
26 declarations (1.6x state county average of 17)
Major Disaster Share Moderate
11/25
11 of 26 declarations are major disasters (42%)
Hazard Diversity Very High
15/20
6 different disaster types declared in Wasco County
FEMA NRI 8-hazard radar - Wasco County
How to read this radar
Each axis: NRI risk rating (Very Low-Very High) on a 0-100 scale. Rounder = broad exposure; spiky = one or two hazards dominate.
Major Disaster share
42%
Mixed major share
NRI risk score
68
Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Per-county per-hazard ratings, December 2025 release
How often does each hazard strike Wasco County?
FEMA's National Risk Index models a historical event count and an annualized frequency for each hazard type. Most hazards are expressed as modeled occurrences per year; FEMA expresses drought and heat-wave frequency as event-days per year. These modeled frequencies are not forecasts.
| Hazard | NRI Risk Rating | Recurrence |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively High | roughly once every 58 years |
| Volcanic Activity | Relatively Low | roughly once every 79 years |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | roughly once every 4 years |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | roughly once every 145 years |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | roughly once every 30 years |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | roughly once every 9 years |
| Landslide | Very Low | an average of 1.1 times per year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | roughly once every 3 years |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 3.5 modeled event-days per year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | an average of 13 times per year |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | an average of 8 times per year |
| Drought | Very Low | 55 modeled event-days per year |
| Hail | Very Low | roughly once every 4 years |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | roughly once every 10 years |
| Tornado | Very Low | roughly once every 16 years |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Modeled annualized frequency; drought and heat wave use event-days/year, December 2025 release
Disaster Types
Fire 14
Severe Storm 4
Flood 4
Biological 2
Coastal Storm 1
Drought 1
What Fire declarations mean here
Fire is the most frequent declaration type on Wasco County's record, 54% of its declarations. Wildfire is the one hazard here with its own dedicated federal instrument: the Fire Management Assistance Grant, which appears in this data as an FM record. An FMAG can be authorised while a fire is still burning, on a timescale of hours, because its purpose is to reimburse the cost of fighting a fire that threatens to become a major disaster.
That distinction matters when comparing counties. An FM declaration is not a presidential major disaster declaration and does not carry the same assistance programmes, so a fire-heavy county's total is not directly comparable with a hurricane-heavy county's total unless the declaration types are separated, which is why they are listed separately on this page.
Declaration counts describe past federal action. They are a record of what was declared, not a forecast of future hazard probability.
Declaration Types
What DR / EM / FM mean
FEMA categorizes declarations as Major Disasters (DR), Emergencies (EM), or Fire Management Assistance (FM).
Fire Management - 12 46.2%
of all 26 declarations
Major Disaster - 11 42.3%
of all 26 declarations
Emergency - 3 11.5%
of all 26 declarations
FEMA Declarations Timeline
| Year | Declarations | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | |
| 2025 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 5 | |
| 2018 | 2 | |
| 2014 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 1 | |
| 2009 | 1 | |
| 2007 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 1 | |
| 2004 | 1 | |
| 2002 | 1 | |
| 1996 | 1 | |
| 1995 | 1 | |
Show 3 earlier declaration years
| 1977 | 1 | |
| 1974 | 1 | |
| 1965 | 1 | |
Disaster Declarations
How the 26 FEMA declarations break into federal action codes (DR / EM / FM). Same DISTINCT grain as the table below.
Download these 26 declarations as CSV . FEMA source data is public domain; our derived presentation is CC0.
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5648 | GRASSHOPPER FIRE | FM | Fire | 2026-07-25 |
| 4907 | SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES | DR | Severe Storm | 2026-04-07 |
| 5587 | ROWENA FIRE | FM | Fire | 2025-06-11 |
| 4854 | WILDFIRES | DR | Fire | 2025-01-01 |
| 5506 | LARCH CREEK FIRE | FM | Fire | 2024-07-11 |
| 4768 | SEVERE WINTER STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES | DR | Severe Storm | 2024-04-13 |
| 5446 | MILLER ROAD FIRE | FM | Fire | 2022-08-03 |
| 4562 | WILDFIRES AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS | DR | Fire | 2020-09-15 |
| 5341 | WHITE RIVER FIRE | FM | Fire | 2020-08-28 |
| 5327 | MOSIER CREEK FIRE | FM | Fire | 2020-08-13 |
| 4499 | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR | Biological | 2020-03-28 |
| 3429 | COVID-19 | EM | Biological | 2020-03-13 |
| 5265 | SOUTH VALLEY FIRE | FM | Fire | 2018-08-02 |
| 5255 | SUBSTATION FIRE | FM | Fire | 2018-07-18 |
| 5073 | ROWENA FIRE | FM | Fire | 2014-08-06 |
| 5046 | GOVERNMENT FLATS FIRE COMPLEX | FM | Fire | 2013-08-18 |
| 2829 | MICROWAVE FIRE | FM | Fire | 2009-08-28 |
| 1683 | SEVERE WINTER STORM AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2007-02-22 |
| 3228 | HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION | EM | Coastal Storm | 2005-09-07 |
| 1510 | SEVERE WINTER STORMS | DR | Severe Storm | 2004-02-19 |
Show 6 earlier declaration records
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2452 | OR - SHELDON RIDGE FIRE - 07/25/02 | FM | Fire | 2002-07-26 |
| 1099 | HIGH WINDS, SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1996-02-09 |
| 1061 | FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1995-08-03 |
| 3039 | DROUGHT | EM | Drought | 1977-04-29 |
| 413 | SEVERE STORMS, SNOWMELT & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1974-01-25 |
| 184 | HEAVY RAINS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1964-12-24 |
Storm Events in Oregon
Statewide NOAA context only. PlainHazard does not currently attribute these state totals to Wasco County.
| Storm Type | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Wind | 859 | 13 | 10 | $3.2B |
| Heavy Snow | 654 | 2 | 0 | $139.2M |
| Frost/Freeze | 391 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Wildfire | 311 | 15 | 38 | $15.1M |
| Flood | 244 | 3 | 1 | $68.4M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database State-level aggregated data, 2015-2025
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Total Claims
10
Total Paid
$93.8K
Avg Per Claim
$9.4K
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Score: 67.8/100
Expected Annual Loss
Relatively Low
$28.9M/year
Social Vulnerability
Relatively Low
Community Resilience
Relatively Moderate
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Wildfire Relatively High
Volcanic Activity Relatively Low
Ice Storm Relatively High
Earthquake Relatively Low
Avalanche Relatively Low
Riverine Flooding Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Low
Drought Very Low
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Very Low
Tornado Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) Ratings reflect relative scores among all US counties. Data: hazards.fema.gov/nri
The model's sharpest exposure here: Wildfire
Wildfire risk in the model reflects fuel, terrain, weather and how much development sits in the wildland-urban interface. It is one of the few hazards where the exposure is materially changed by land management and building choices, not only by where the county happens to be.
For Wasco County the two measures on this page point the same way: Wildfire is the county's highest-rated modeled hazard (Relatively High), and Fire declarations also lead its federal record. Where the model and the declaration history agree, the reading is comparatively straightforward, the hazard is both expected and repeatedly realised.
National Risk Index ratings are modeled estimates of expected annual loss, not predictions of what will happen in any given year.
Data-matched county comparisons
Wasco County's closest FEMA peer: Richland County, SC
Comparisons use published FEMA declaration fields plus the National Risk Index composite for Wasco County. Record similarity, not a safety rating.
Closest declaration profiles
Wasco County shows 26 FEMA declarations, led by Fire.
Similar Major-disaster share
Wasco County: 11 of 26 of its declarations are Major.
Similar modeled NRI score
Wasco County: NRI composite 67.8 (Relatively Low).
How these peers are chosen
Cohort: Published U.S. county equivalents outside the source state or territory. Each metric keeps six ETL candidates; three unique destinations are shown after de-duplicating across axes. Declaration-volume ranking combines count and Major-disaster share and prefers a different leading incident type; Major-share ranks the Major fraction adjusted for volume; NRI ranks the modeled composite score only.
Retained FEMA snapshot feed for Wasco County - capture-dated entries only.
Compare beyond this state
Nationwide peers by NRI score & FEMA declaration volume
Two PlainHazard-derived comparison paths for Wasco County: nearest out-of-state National Risk Index composite and nearest FEMA declaration count (floor ≥5 records). Record similarity only, not a forecast of the next hazard.
Similar NRI composite
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA NRI score. This county: 67.8 (Relatively Low).
Similar declaration volume
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA declaration count. This county: 26. NRI peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Further reading for this county
Most disaster-prone counties
With 26 FEMA declarations, Wasco County sits in the high-volume declaration band - see how that count ranks against other U.S. counties.
More PlainHazard guides
- Most disaster-prone counties - U.S. counties ranked by FEMA declaration totals.
- Understanding disaster data - declarations vs storm events vs NRI scores.
- Preparing for natural disasters - household checklist (not county-specific advice).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common disaster type in Wasco County?
The most common disaster type in Wasco County is Fire, with 14 declarations. Other disaster types include Severe Storm (4), Flood (4), Biological (2).
How does Wasco County's FEMA declaration record compare with the Oregon average?
FEMA lists 26 declaration records for Wasco County. That is 56% above the Oregon county mean of 16.6. Its count is also 25% above the national county mean of 20.7. A larger declaration history records more federal actions; it is not a forecast of the county's next hazard.
How many major FEMA disaster declarations has Wasco County received?
Wasco County has received 11 major disaster declarations, representing 42% of all 26 disaster declarations.
How many flood insurance claims has Wasco County filed?
Wasco County has 10 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims totaling $93.8K in payments, with an average of $9.4K per claim.
What was the worst year for disasters in Wasco County?
The most active year for disaster declarations in Wasco County was 2020, with 5 declarations. The county has FEMA disaster data spanning 1965 to 2026.
What is the FEMA National Risk Index score for Wasco County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Wasco County, Oregon has an overall risk score of 67.8 out of 100 (Relatively Low). On social vulnerability the county rates Relatively Low; on community resilience, Relatively Moderate. The Expected Annual Loss (EAL) score is Relatively Low, representing $28.9M in annualized losses.
Which natural hazard poses the greatest risk to Wasco County?
FEMA's NRI data points to Wasco County is Wildfire (risk rating: Relatively High). Other significant hazards include Volcanic Activity (Relatively Low) and Ice Storm (Relatively High). FEMA's modeled event frequency puts wildfire here at roughly once every 58 years. The underlying methodology weighs historical event frequency against exposed assets and community vulnerability.
Data Sources & Methodology
Disaster declaration data comes from the FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 API, which includes all federally declared disasters, emergencies, and fire management assistance grants.
Storm event data is sourced from the NOAA Storm Events Database (2015-2025), which tracks significant weather events including thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, and winter storms.
Flood insurance data comes from the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA claims dataset.
This data is provided for informational purposes only. FEMA disaster declarations represent federal response actions and may not capture all local emergencies or weather events.
FEMA OpenFEMA declarations + NRI for Wasco County · vintage 2026-08-25 · Methodology · Oregon profile · Verify with FEMA OpenFEMA · Verify with NOAA Storm Events