riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Josephine County Disaster Risk

Josephine County, Oregon

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

90th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#10

of 36 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

90th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 90% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively High

Higher than 99% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 5% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively High

Higher than 95% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Josephine County

Risk Verdict

Josephine County has a relatively moderate overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 90th percentile nationally. While not in the highest tier, this county faces meaningful hazard exposure. Residents are encouraged to understand their specific risks and maintain emergency supplies.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Josephine County, scoring in the 99th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 95th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (90th), tornado (5th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Josephine County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as earthquake also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Josephine County is significantly riskier than the average county in Oregon. Its composite risk score is 26.8 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

Is your home insured against Josephine County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

High flood risk area

Learn about NFIP flood insurance coverage for your property.

Learn More →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Josephine County, OR?
Josephine County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 90th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Josephine County?
Josephine County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (99th percentile), earthquake (95th percentile), flooding (90th percentile), tornado (5th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 99th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Josephine County risk compare to the Oregon average?
Josephine County's composite risk percentile is 90th, compared to the Oregon state average of 63th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Josephine County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Oregon.
Is Josephine County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Josephine County's wildfire risk is at the 99th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Josephine County is at the 90th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Why is Josephine County higher risk than average?
Josephine County's composite risk score of 90th percentile is above the Oregon state average of 63th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (99th percentile), along with earthquake and flooding risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Lincoln County

Oregon

-0.3

Relatively Moderate

90th percentile

Coos County

Oregon

+1.7

Relatively Moderate

92th percentile

Linn County

Oregon

-2.1

Relatively Moderate

88th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

Explore more data for Josephine County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score