James Rowley and Mary J. Blackaby House · Photo: Visitor7 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Ontario than in 81% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ontario gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, #3 of 142 in Oregon. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%), then earthquakes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1982.
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 Ontario 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 Ontario’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ontario, and Ontario’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 1%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #3 of 142 in Oregon; lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ontario’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, Ontario has less expected damage per building than 99% of Oregon towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.9M a year in losses across Ontario: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ontario flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ontario, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Ontario isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Malheur County.The storms Ontario remembers
None of the 3 disasters declared for Malheur County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Ontario itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19822 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20171 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Malheur County has had 3 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 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Malheur County, 2024–2024.
Old photos of Ontario after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ontario archive →Get ready for what Ontario 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 Ontario
Is Ontario at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ontario has lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #3 of 142 in Oregon. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and earthquakes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ontario flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Ontario since 1982, $58K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Ontario 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 Malheur County, 0.5% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Ontario?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ontario’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Ontario at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Ontario’s rate for it is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ontario.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ontario’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.