Photo: M.O. Stevens · Public domainMore hazard damage per building is expected in Garden Home-Whitford than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Garden Home-Whitford gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #62 of 142 in Oregon. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (61%), then river and rain flooding (38%). Flood insurance has paid 41 claims here since 1979.
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 Garden Home-Whitford 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 Garden Home-Whitford’s grade
Earthquakes are 61% of the building damage FEMA expects in Garden Home-Whitford, and Garden Home-Whitford’s rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 38% (lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
C #62 of 142 in Oregon; higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Garden Home-Whitford’s residents live in 3 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, Garden Home-Whitford has less expected damage per building than 57% of Oregon towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.9M a year in losses across Garden Home-Whitford: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Garden Home-Whitford flood? Sometimes: 41 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Garden Home-Whitford, from FEMA’s records: 11.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Winter storm7 claims · $127K
Garden Home-Whitford 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.The storms Garden Home-Whitford remembers
None of the 11 disasters declared for Washington County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Garden Home-Whitford itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 199612 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and High Winds, declared for Washington County
- 20158 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, declared for Washington County
- 20095 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county 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 Garden Home-Whitford after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Garden Home-Whitford archive →Garden Home-Whitford and its neighbors
Garden Home-Whitford is 3rd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh Hills | C+more damage than 57% | earthquakes | 13 |
| Beaverton | C+more damage than 62% | earthquakes | 31 |
| Garden Home-Whitford | Cmore damage than 66% | earthquakes | 41 |
| Metzger | Cmore damage than 69% | earthquakes | — |
| 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 Garden Home-Whitford 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 Garden Home-Whitford
Is Garden Home-Whitford at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Garden Home-Whitford has higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #62 of 142 in Oregon. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (61%) and river and rain flooding (38%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Garden Home-Whitford flood?
Flood insurance has paid 41 claims in Garden Home-Whitford since 1979, $555K in all, or 11.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Winter storm (7).
Is Garden Home-Whitford 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 Garden Home-Whitford?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Garden Home-Whitford’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 Garden Home-Whitford?
By flood claims, Winter storm: 7 paid, $127K.
Is Garden Home-Whitford at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (61%), and Garden Home-Whitford’s rate for it is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Garden Home-Whitford.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Garden Home-Whitford’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.