Multnomah County
Oregon — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 98th
Multnomah County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 98.5, 98th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $440M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | High | 0.02 / yr | $326M |
| Landslide | Medium | 2.05 / yr | $296K |
| Heat Wave | High | 6.34 / yr | $10M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 0.39 / yr | $91M |
| Volcanic Activity | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $159K |
| Ice Storm | High | 1.61 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.32 / yr | $9M |
| Winter Weather | High | 16.35 / yr | $309K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $155K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.07 / yr | $925K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.04 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Low | 7.96 / yr | $219K |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 0.29 / yr | $43K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $31 |
| Drought | Very Low | 1.87 / yr | $4 |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $3K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Multnomah County?
Multnomah County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 98.5 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 98th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Multnomah County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (High, $326M EAL), Landslide (Medium, $296K EAL), Heat Wave (High, $10M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Multnomah County compare to other Oregon counties?
Multnomah County ranks #1 of 36 Oregon counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Multnomah County's $440M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.