Oregon natural disasters & FEMA declarations
OR · 6th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Oregon has had 166 federally declared disasters since 1956, the 6th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Fire (121 declarations, about 73% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides" (Severe Storm), on Apr 7, 2026. The largest recorded earthquake in or near Oregon was magnitude 7.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Oregon, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Fire | 121 | 73% |
| Severe Storm | 20 | 12% |
| Flood | 16 | 10% |
| Biological | 2 | 1% |
| Earthquake | 2 | 1% |
| Mud/Landslide | 1 | 1% |
| Tsunami | 1 | 1% |
| Coastal Storm | 1 | 1% |
| Fishing Losses | 1 | 1% |
| Drought | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 118 |
| Major Disaster (DR) | 44 |
| Emergency (EM) | 4 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Oregon's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 3 |
| 1960s | 3 |
| 1970s | 13 |
| 1980s | 9 |
| 1990s | 18 |
| 2000s | 31 |
| 2010s | 37 |
| 2020s | 52 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 7, 2026 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | DR-4907-OR |
| Aug 23, 2025 | Flat Fire | Fire | FM-5610-OR |
| Jul 22, 2025 | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | DR-4881-OR |
| Jul 13, 2025 | Highland Fire | Fire | FM-5599-OR |
| Jun 18, 2025 | Upper Applegate Road Fire | Fire | FM-5590-OR |
| Jun 17, 2025 | Alder Springs Fire | Fire | FM-5589-OR |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Oregon
The strongest magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes attributed to Oregon in the USGS catalog (1900–present). Locations are matched from the USGS event description.
| Magnitude | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| M7 | Aug 17, 1991 | 136 km WSW of Brookings, Oregon |
| M6.9 | Jul 13, 1991 | 103 km W of Pistol River, Oregon |
Source: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Data as of June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Oregon had?
Oregon has had 166 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1956, the 6th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Oregon?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Oregon is "Fire", with 121 declarations — about 73% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Oregon?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Oregon in this snapshot was "Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides" (Severe Storm), declared Apr 7, 2026.
What is the biggest earthquake recorded in Oregon?
The largest earthquake in or near Oregon in the USGS magnitude-6.0+ catalog is a magnitude 7 event on Aug 17, 1991 (136 km WSW of Brookings, Oregon).
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18