Polk County
Oregon — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 73th
Polk County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 72.8, 73th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $38M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.02 / yr | $19M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 6.12 / yr | $3M |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $2K |
| Landslide | Low | 4.22 / yr | $31K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.82 / yr | $15M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.60 / yr | $196K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $38K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 7.86 / yr | $44K |
| Lightning | Low | 4.96 / yr | $153K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $187K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $22 |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $124K |
| Drought | Very Low | 0.32 / yr | $2 |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $105K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $25K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| 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 Polk County?
Polk County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 72.8 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 73th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Polk County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Medium, $19M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $3M EAL), Volcanic Activity (Very Low, $2K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Polk County compare to other Oregon counties?
Polk County ranks #20 of 36 Oregon counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low 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. Polk County's $38M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.