riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Malheur County Disaster Risk

Malheur County, Oregon

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

35th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#25

of 36 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

52th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 52% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 91% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 9% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 72% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Malheur County

Risk Verdict

Malheur County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 35th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Malheur County, scoring in the 91th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 72th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (52th), tornado (9th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Malheur 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

Malheur County is notably safer than the average county in Oregon. Its composite risk score is 28.7 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Malheur County, OR?
Malheur County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 35th 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 Malheur County?
Malheur County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (91th percentile), earthquake (72th percentile), flooding (52th percentile), tornado (9th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 91th 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 Malheur County risk compare to the Oregon average?
Malheur County's composite risk percentile is 35th, compared to the Oregon state average of 63th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Malheur County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Oregon.
Is Malheur County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Malheur County's wildfire risk is at the 91th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Malheur County is at the 52th 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.
Is Malheur County a safe place to live?
Malheur County's composite risk score of 35th percentile is below the Oregon state average of 63th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is wildfire at the 91th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Wallowa County

Oregon

-0.8

Very Low

34th percentile

Crook County

Oregon

-1.2

Very Low

34th percentile

Grant County

Oregon

-2.6

Very Low

32th 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.

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