Enter any address in Benton County, Oregon to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow and coastal flooding are the dominant flood types in Benton County. Recent events include flooding along the coast due to high tides and rising river levels on January 3, 2022, and coastal river and small stream flooding following heavy rains on December 20, 2020.
The National Flood Insurance Program data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $8,397 and an average water depth of 5.9 feet. While Zone X properties have had fewer claims, their average payout is higher at $11,623, with an average water depth of 0.7 feet. Residents in coastal areas, near rivers, and those in unshaded Zone X or Zone A areas should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
6 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Benton County, Oregon has recorded 25 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database. The county has received 15 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1964–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Jan 10, 2024 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Feb 11, 2021 |
| Wildfires And Straight-line Winds | Fire | Sep 7, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Feb 6, 2014 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Jan 17, 2012 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 14, 2006 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Dec 18, 2005 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Coastal Storm | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jan 3, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 20, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 12, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 20, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 9, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 8, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 22, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 9, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Nov 25, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 17, 2015 | 10.00K |
Flood — Jan 3, 2022
The first of two strong Pacific fronts brought high winds to the coast as well as gusty winds to the Willamette Valley and interior lowlands of southwest Washington. This storm generated large seas impacting the coastline, and combined with rising river levels and high astronomical tides, resulted in some flooding along the coast due to poor drainage. In addition to the wind and rain, heavy sn...
Flood — Dec 20, 2021
Heavy rain fell across parts of northwest Oregon along with minor river flooding. The heaviest rain fell along and just north of a front that held nearly stationary from Newport to Albany to Mount Jefferson.
Flood — Jan 12, 2021
A series of slow moving fronts brought periods of heavy rain along with strong winds. This resulted in high surf; coastal, river and urban flooding; landslides; and debris flows. As the front moved inland early on the 13th, a debris flow resulted in a fatality in the Columbia River Gorge. The front brought a burst of 35-50 mph winds to the Willamette Valley and southwest Washington interior r...
Flood — Dec 20, 2020
A series of strong Pacific fronts moved across the region bringing high winds to the coast with heavy rain across much of the area. The heavy rains resulted in flooding of some coastal rivers as well as small stream flooding and a debris flow.
Flood — Apr 9, 2019
A particularly strong atmospheric river took aim for the south Willamette Valley, sitting over areas south of Salem for two days, producing anywhere from 2.5 to 5 inches of rain over a 48 hour period. Some areas in the Cascades and Cascade Foothills saw 5 to 7 inches of rain over that 48 hour period. Heavy rain combined with snow melt from all the snow from a few weeks prior in this same area...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Benton County, Oregon:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Benton County, Oregon that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.