4 flood insurance claims·$4,733 paid·2 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Baker County, Oregon. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms dominates the flood profile of Baker County, Oregon, supplemented by seasonal river overflow. Over a 30-year period, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 11 flash flood events and 4 general flood events.
Recent historical events illustrate these hazards. In June 2018, thunderstorms dropped heavy rainfall over Southwest Baker County, causing flash flooding and debris flows on the Rail and Cornet-Windy Ridge fires burn scar areas. Earlier, in May 2011, heavy rain and snowmelt forced the Powder River in and around Baker City above flood stage, resulting in minor flooding that persisted for several days, while simultaneous heavy rain and snowmelt caused widespread flooding along and near the Burnt River.
FEMA National Flood Insurance Program records show claims spanning multiple zones, including Zone X with 2 claims averaging a $0 payout and an average 0 inches of recorded water depth, Zone A with 1 claim averaging a $4,278 payout and an average 0 inches of recorded water depth, and Zone UNKNOWN with 1 claim averaging a $455 payout and an average 1 inch of recorded water depth. Residents near rivers, along burn scars, and those located in mapped or unmapped flood zones should pay the closest attention to these recurring flash flood and river overflow risks.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 1 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 2010, with 2 claims and $4,278 paid.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
1 NOAA storm reports from Baker County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Oregon flood stories →
11 federal disaster declarations since 1964, 2 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Durkee Fire | Jul 21, 2024 |
| Dry Gulch Fire | Sep 13, 2015 |
| Cornet And Windy Ridge Fire Complex | Aug 11, 2015 |
| Foster Gulch Fire Complex | Jul 24, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Dec 26, 2003 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Land And Mudslides, Flooding | Dec 25, 1996 |
| Drought | Apr 29, 1977 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
15 since 1996: 11 flash floods and 4 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 20, 2018 | — |
| Flash Flood | Sep 8, 2017 | $250,000 |
| Flood | May 20, 2011 | — |
| Flood | May 15, 2011 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 4, 2011 | — |
| Flood | Jun 2, 2010 | $10,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jun 13, 2009 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 4, 2009 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Jun 20, 2018. Thunderstorms with heavy rainfall developed over Southwest Baker County, Oregon on June 20th, leading to flash flooding and debris flow on the Rail and Cornet-Windy Ridge fires burn scar areas.
Flash Flood · Sep 8, 2017. Heavy rain fell across the Rail Burn Scar resulting in flash flooding including debris flow.
Flood · May 20, 2011. Baker City experienced more minor flooding as the Powder River came out of its banks from the 20th through the 22nd of the month.
Flood · May 15, 2011. The Powder River in and around Baker City went above flood stage due to heavy rain and snowmelt. Minor flooding was experienced from the 15th through the 18th of the month.
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Baker County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.