Enter any address in Washington County, Oregon to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow is the dominant flood character in Washington County. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 26 flood events, resulting in 2 fatalities. Recent examples include minor river flooding on January 28, 2024, affecting the Tualatin, Pudding, and Luckiamute Rivers. On December 4, 2023, atmospheric rivers led to minor river and urban flooding across portions of northwest Oregon.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A, which have experienced 219 claims with an average payout of $15,313 and water depths averaging 4.3 feet, are most frequently impacted. Properties in Zone X_UNSHADED also show significant claims, averaging $13,893, though with shallower water depths. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, or those with properties near rivers and streams, 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.
Washington County, Oregon has recorded 26 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 (1964–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Falls Fire | Fire | Aug 8, 2024 |
| Chehalem Mountain Bald Peak Fire | Fire | Sep 8, 2020 |
| Powerline Fire | Fire | Sep 8, 2020 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Sep 8, 2020 |
| 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, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Dec 6, 2015 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Record And Near Record Snow | Severe Storm | Dec 13, 2008 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Dec 1, 2007 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jan 28, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 8, 2023 | 14.00K |
| Flood | Dec 4, 2023 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flood | Jan 14, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 13, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 12, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 12, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 10, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 9, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Nov 25, 2016 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jan 28, 2024
Minor flooding at Tualatin River at Farmington, Pudding River at Aurora, and Luckiamute River near Suver.
Flood — May 8, 2023
Heavy showers developed over the Portland metro area in the afternoon as a cool upper trough remained over the region. Minor flooding occurred in the area. The greatest impacts were to a southwest Portland neighborhood where 14 homes were affected.
Flood — Dec 4, 2023
A pair of moderate atmospheric rivers brought heavy rain leading to minor river and urban flooding to portions of northwest Oregon.
Flood — Jan 14, 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 — 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...
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 Washington 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 Washington 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.