Natural Disasters in Salem, OR

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

72.8

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

78.6

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

18.2

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

64.5

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Earthquake95.4Heat Wave87.4Volcanic Activity84.0

Hazard	Risk Score
Earthquake	95.4
Heat Wave	87.4
Volcanic Activity	84.0
Landslide	83.9
Ice Storm	64.5
Wildfire	43.4
Winter Weather	34.4
Lightning	33.9
Cold Wave	15.2
Avalanche	14.6
Tornado	12.7
Drought	12.4
Strong Wind	11.6
Hail	7.4

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

Most Recent

Fire

Aug 2023

Most Common Type

Fire

4 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Aug 24, 2023	Fire	LIBERTY FIRE
May 4, 2021	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Sep 15, 2020	Fire	WILDFIRES AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS
Sep 10, 2020	Fire	WILDFIRES
Sep 8, 2020	Fire	BEACHIE CREEK LIONSHEAD FIRE COMPLEX
Mar 28, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Mar 2, 2012	Flood	SEVERE WINTER STORM, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Mar 2, 2009	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM, RECORD AND NEAR RECORD SNOW
Sep 7, 2005	Coastal Storm	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Feb 19, 2004	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS
Feb 9, 1996	Flood	HIGH WINDS, SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Apr 26, 1993	Earthquake	EARTHQUAKE
Jan 25, 1974	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, SNOWMELT & FLOODING
Dec 24, 1964	Flood	HEAVY RAINS & FLOODING

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

763

Total IA Distributed

$1,030,131

Repair/Replace

$17,464

Rental Assistance

$43,506

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-4499	227	$946,153	—
DR-4562	523	$56,109	$1,273
DR-1733	13	$27,869	$3,543

Individual and household assistance for homeowners and renters affected by federally declared disasters.

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

400

Total Claims Paid

$5,967,971

Avg Claim Payout

$14,920

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$61,976,669

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

536

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4499	Biological	76	$32,814,749
DR-4562	Wildfire	83	$12,727,489
DR-4599	Winter Storm	67	$9,795,870
DR-4055	Flood	137	$2,317,992
DR-1733	Severe Storm(s)	45	$1,184,333
DR-4258	Severe Storm(s)	7	$1,119,185
DR-1510	Severe Storm(s)	46	$1,066,393
DR-1824	Severe Storm(s)	36	$707,376
DR-1405	Severe Storm(s)	19	$117,478
DR-1956	Severe Storm(s)	6	$65,524
DR-1632	Severe Storm(s)	11	$38,591
DR-1683	Severe Storm(s)	3	$21,688

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$3,420,061

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

2.45

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
205.6: Structural Retrofitting/Rehabilitating Public Structures - Seismic	2	$3,014,121
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	1	$253,312
201.1: Relocation of Private Structures - Riverine	1	$44,579
202.1: Elevation of Private Structures - Riverine	1	$108,049

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Salem has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are earthquake, heat wave, volcanic activity. The area has had 15 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is fire (4 declarations). 400 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $61,976,669 in public assistance recovery funding. $1,030,131 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 5 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.