Columbia College · Photo: Ian Poellet · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Milton-Freewater faces less hazard damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Milton-Freewater gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #11 of 142 in Oregon. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%), then earthquakes (30%). 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 Milton-Freewater faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Earthquakes
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 Milton-Freewater’s grade
River and rain flooding is 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in Milton-Freewater, and Milton-Freewater’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 30% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #11 of 142 in Oregon; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Milton-Freewater’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, Milton-Freewater has less expected damage per building than 93% of Oregon towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.8M a year in losses across Milton-Freewater: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Milton-Freewater flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Milton-Freewater. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Milton-Freewater isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Umatilla County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Milton-Freewater
Disasters that paid out in Milton-Freewater itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Milton-Freewater), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides42 households applied for aid$353K aid approved
Umatilla County has had 8 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 4 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Umatilla County, 2001–2026.
Old photos of Milton-Freewater after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Milton-Freewater archive →Get ready for what Milton-Freewater faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Milton-Freewater
Is Milton-Freewater at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Milton-Freewater has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #11 of 142 in Oregon. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%) and earthquakes (30%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Milton-Freewater 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 Umatilla County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Milton-Freewater?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Milton-Freewater’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 Milton-Freewater?
By FEMA money that reached Milton-Freewater, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2020): 42 households applied for aid, $353K approved.
Is Milton-Freewater at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and Milton-Freewater’s rate for it is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Milton-Freewater.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Milton-Freewater’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.