Photo: Visitor7 · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Bandon faces more hazard damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bandon gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #139 of 142 in Oregon. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (64%), then river and rain flooding (27%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1981.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Bandon faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
River and rain flooding
Tsunamis
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Bandon’s grade
Earthquakes are 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bandon, and Bandon’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. Tsunamis add 8%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D #139 of 142 in Oregon; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bandon’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Oregon town has higher expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Bandon has more expected damage per building than 98% of Oregon towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.4M a year in losses across Bandon: $3.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bandon flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bandon, from FEMA’s records: 5.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Bandon isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Coos County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bandon
Disasters that paid out in Bandon itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Bandon), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$9K to the City of Bandon for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$206K to the City of Bandon for repairs
Coos County has had 16 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Bandon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bandon archive →Get ready for what Bandon faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Strong shaking or a sudden drop in the sea means head for high ground now.
- Learn the tsunami route signs near the shore.
- Stay away until officials say it’s safe.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Bandon
Is Bandon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bandon has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #139 of 142 in Oregon. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (64%) and river and rain flooding (27%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bandon flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Bandon since 1981, $129K in all, or 5.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Bandon in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Coos County, 11% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bandon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bandon’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Bandon?
By FEMA money that reached Bandon, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2007): $206K to the City of Bandon for repairs.
Is Bandon at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Bandon’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bandon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bandon’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.