Enter any address in Columbia County, Oregon to see its FEMA flood zone
4 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Columbia County, Oregon has recorded 12 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database. The county has received 17 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 (1964–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfires And Straight-line Winds | Fire | Sep 7, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Jan 7, 2017 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Dec 6, 2015 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Jan 17, 2012 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Record And Near Record Snow | Severe Storm | Dec 13, 2008 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Dec 1, 2007 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 14, 2006 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Dec 18, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jan 6, 2022 | 25.00K |
| Flood | Jan 13, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 12, 2019 | 30.00K |
| Flood | Feb 9, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Nov 24, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 9, 2015 | 2305.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flood | Dec 8, 2015 | 824.00K |
| Flood | Dec 7, 2015 | 124.00K |
| Flood | Nov 19, 2012 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 8, 2009 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jan 6, 2022
The second in a series of strong Pacific fronts brought another round of heavy rain and resulting flooding of mainstem rivers draining the coastal mountains and interior of northwest Oregon. Coastal flooding also occurred at some coastal communities as a result of high astronomical tides combined with high river levels and high seas.
Flood — Jan 13, 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 — Feb 12, 2019
Back-to-back low pressure systems dropping south along the coast of British Columbia and Washington brought cold air south into NW Oregon as well as plenty of moisture. Locations in the Columbia Gorge and Hood River Valley saw 1 to 2 feet of snow. At lower elevations, a near stationary frontal boundary the night of the 11th into the morning of the 12th dropped several inches of rain over port...
Flood — Feb 9, 2017
A series of fronts brought moderate to heavy rainfall across Northwest Oregon, resulting flooding on many rivers across the area over the next several days.
Flood — Nov 24, 2016
A moist Pacific front moving slowly across the area produced heavy rainfall, resulting in flooding of several rivers across Northwest Oregon and at least two landslides.
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 Columbia 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 Columbia 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.