Photo: Ian Poellet · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Beaverton than in 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Beaverton gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #49 of 142 in Oregon. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (63%), then river and rain flooding (36%). Flood insurance has paid 31 claims here since 1980.
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 Beaverton 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
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 Beaverton’s grade
Earthquakes are 63% of the building damage FEMA expects in Beaverton, and Beaverton’s rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 36% (lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #49 of 142 in Oregon; higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Beaverton’s residents live in 40 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, Beaverton has less expected damage per building than 66% of Oregon towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $41.9M a year in losses across Beaverton: $27.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Beaverton flood? Sometimes: 31 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Beaverton, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Winter storm3 claims · $25K
Beaverton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Washington County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Beaverton
Disasters that paid out in Beaverton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Beaverton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Wildfires and Straight-line Winds3 households applied for aid$500 aid approved
- 2015Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$34K to the City of Beaverton for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm, Record and Near Record Snow$30K to the City of Beaverton for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides10 households applied for aid$14K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
Washington County has had 11 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.
Also 3 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Washington County, 2020–2024.
Old photos of Beaverton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Beaverton archive →Beaverton and its neighbors
Beaverton is 6th of the 11 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Haven-Sylvan | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Cedar Mill | Bless damage than 57% | earthquakes | 2 |
| West Slope | B−more damage than 52% | earthquakes | 2 |
| Oak Hills | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Raleigh Hills | C+more damage than 57% | earthquakes | 13 |
| Beaverton | C+more damage than 62% | earthquakes | 31 |
| Aloha | C+more damage than 65% | earthquakes | 17 |
| Garden Home-Whitford | Cmore damage than 66% | earthquakes | 41 |
| Hillsboro | Cmore damage than 69% | earthquakes | 11 |
| Portland | Cmore damage than 69% | earthquakes | 167 |
| Tigard | Cmore damage than 72% | earthquakes | 13 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Beaverton 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.
- 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 Beaverton
Is Beaverton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Beaverton has higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #49 of 142 in Oregon. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (63%) and river and rain flooding (36%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Beaverton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 31 claims in Beaverton since 1980, $447K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Winter storm (3).
Is Beaverton 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 Washington County, 38% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Beaverton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Beaverton’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 Beaverton?
By FEMA money that reached Beaverton, Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2015): $34K to the City of Beaverton for repairs. By flood claims, Winter storm: 3 paid, $25K.
Is Beaverton at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (63%), and Beaverton’s rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Beaverton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Beaverton’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.