Columbia County
Oregon — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 71th
Columbia County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 70.7, 71th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $34M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.02 / yr | $15M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 4.90 / yr | $4M |
| Landslide | Medium | 5.56 / yr | $62K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.43 / yr | $14M |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 2.51 / yr | $159K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.90 / yr | $58K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.14 / yr | $507K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $17K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 12.98 / yr | $30K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.05 / yr | $255K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $130K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $13K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $2 |
| Lightning | Very Low | 5.57 / yr | $16K |
| Drought | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Columbia County?
Columbia County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 70.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 71th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Columbia County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Medium, $15M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $4M EAL), Landslide (Medium, $62K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Columbia County compare to other Oregon counties?
Columbia County ranks #21 of 36 Oregon counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Columbia County's $34M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.