Photo: DougMiller65 · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Coos Bay faces more hazard damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Coos Bay gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #133 of 142 in Oregon. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (66%), then river and rain flooding (22%). Flood insurance has paid 45 claims here since 1978.
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 stands out about Coos Bay’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Coos Bay 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
Coastal 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 Coos Bay’s grade
Earthquakes are 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in Coos Bay, and Coos Bay’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 10%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D #133 of 142 in Oregon; higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Coos Bay’s residents live in 7 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, Coos Bay has more expected damage per building than 94% of Oregon towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $19.8M a year in losses across Coos Bay: $13.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Coos Bay flood? Sometimes: 45 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Coos Bay, from FEMA’s records: 6.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Coos Bay 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.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Coos Bay
Disasters that paid out in Coos Bay itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Coos Bay), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$93K to the City of Coos Bay for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$353K to the City of Coos Bay for repairs
- 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$31K to the City of Coos Bay for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Tsunami Wave Surge$2K to the City of Coos Bay for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$221K to the City of Coos Bay for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
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 Coos Bay after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Coos Bay archive →Coos Bay and its neighbors
Coos Bay is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Bend | Dmore damage than 93% | earthquakes | 4 |
| Coos Bay | Dmore damage than 94% | earthquakes | 45 |
| Bunker Hill | D−more damage than 97% | earthquakes | — |
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 Coos Bay 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Coos Bay
Is Coos Bay at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Coos Bay has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #133 of 142 in Oregon. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (66%) and river and rain flooding (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Coos Bay flood?
Flood insurance has paid 45 claims in Coos Bay since 1978, $1.4M in all, or 6.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Coos Bay 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 Coos Bay?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Coos Bay’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 Coos Bay?
By FEMA money that reached Coos Bay, Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2015): $353K to the City of Coos Bay for repairs.
Is Coos Bay at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and Coos Bay’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Coos Bay.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Coos Bay’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.