Photo: Finetooth · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Monmouth faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Monmouth gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #44 of 142 in Oregon. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (53%), then river and rain flooding (46%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2025.
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 Monmouth 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 Monmouth’s grade
Earthquakes are 53% of the building damage FEMA expects in Monmouth, and Monmouth’s rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 46% (lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #44 of 142 in Oregon; higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Monmouth’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, Monmouth has less expected damage per building than 70% of Oregon towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.1M a year in losses across Monmouth: $2.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Monmouth flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2025
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Monmouth, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Monmouth isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Polk County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Monmouth
Disasters that paid out in Monmouth itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Monmouth), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Severe Winter Storm$264K to the City of Monmouth for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$10K to the City of Monmouth for repairs
- 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$11K to the City of Monmouth for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$800 aid approved
Polk County has had 12 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 Monmouth after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Monmouth archive →Monmouth and its neighbors
Monmouth has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monmouth | C+more damage than 60% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Independence | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Monmouth 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 Monmouth
Is Monmouth at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Monmouth has higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #44 of 142 in Oregon. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (53%) and river and rain flooding (46%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Monmouth flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Monmouth since 2025, $4K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Monmouth 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 Polk County, 30% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Monmouth?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Monmouth’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 Monmouth?
By FEMA money that reached Monmouth, Severe Winter Storm (2021): $264K to the City of Monmouth for repairs.
Is Monmouth at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (53%), and Monmouth’s rate for it is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Monmouth.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Monmouth’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.