Enter any address in Polk County, Oregon to see its FEMA flood zone
Localized river flooding is the dominant flood character in Polk County, OR. Recent events include minor flooding on the Tualatin, Pudding, and Luckiamute Rivers in January 2024, and localized flooding facilitated by heavy rainfall and prior snowmelt in February 2025. Another event in December 2024 was attributed to heavy rain from an atmospheric river.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $14,950 and an average water depth of 4.3 feet. Properties in Zone X have also seen claims, with an average payout of $3,807 and an average water depth of 20.3 feet. Homeowners in flood zones, particularly those near rivers and streams, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
7 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Polk County, Oregon has recorded 27 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database. The county has received 14 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 (1964–2021)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Feb 11, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| 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 |
| 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 | Feb 24, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 28, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 7, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 7, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 4, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 20, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 13, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 20, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 9, 2017 | 0.00K |
Flood — Feb 24, 2025
A strengthening upper-level low and an associated strong low pressure system at the surface tracked just off the Pacific Northwest coast leading to a period of high winds. Warmer temperatures, additional rainfall and prior snowfall to this event facilitated localized flooding as well. The frontal passage during the early afternoon hours of Feb 24th allowed for a period of isolated severe thunde...
Flood — Jan 28, 2024
Minor flooding at Tualatin River at Farmington, Pudding River at Aurora, and Luckiamute River near Suver.
Flood — Dec 27, 2024
A period of heavy rain due to a weak to moderate atmospheric river and earlier precipitation leading up to the event facilitated localized river flooding in Oregon.
Flood — Dec 7, 2023
A strong atmospheric river brought heavy rains on December 5th which pushed many streams and rivers to flood stage along the coast, with minor flooding on many smaller streams and creeks across northwest Oregon. After moderate rainfall December 1st through the 4th, a very slow moving front dumped more heavy rain to the northern Oregon coast and coast range mountains. Area of the Coast Range rec...
Flood — Jan 7, 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.
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 Polk 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 Polk 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.