Sam Brown House · Photo: Andrew Parodi at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Gervais than in 67% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gervais gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, #65 of 142 in Oregon. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (70%), then river and rain flooding (29%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Gervais 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 Gervais’ grade
Earthquakes are 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Gervais, and Gervais’ rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 29% (lower than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
C #65 of 142 in Oregon; higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Gervais’ residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Oregon town has higher expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Gervais has less expected damage per building than 55% of Oregon towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Gervais: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Gervais flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Gervais. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Gervais isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Marion County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Gervais
Disasters that paid out in Gervais itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Gervais), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Severe Winter Storm$106K to the City of Gervais for repairs
- 2020Wildfires and Straight-line Winds9 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
Marion County has had 10 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 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Marion County, 2020–2023.
Old photos of Gervais after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Gervais archive →Get ready for what Gervais 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 Gervais
Is Gervais at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gervais has higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #65 of 142 in Oregon. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (70%) and river and rain flooding (29%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Gervais 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 Marion County, 29% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Gervais?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Gervais’ 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 Gervais?
By FEMA money that reached Gervais, Severe Winter Storm (2021): $106K to the City of Gervais for repairs.
Is Gervais at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Gervais’ rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Gervais.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Gervais’ 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.