Photo: Finetooth · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Rockaway Beach faces more hazard damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rockaway Beach gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (38%), then earthquakes (37%). Flood insurance has paid 47 claims here since 1981.
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 stands out about Rockaway Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Rockaway Beach 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
Tsunamis
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 Rockaway Beach’s grade
River and rain flooding is 38% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rockaway Beach, and Rockaway Beach’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 37%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rockaway Beach’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.9M a year in losses across Rockaway Beach: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rockaway Beach flood? Sometimes: 47 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rockaway Beach, from FEMA’s records: 24.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Rockaway Beach isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Tillamook County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rockaway Beach
Disasters that paid out in Rockaway Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Rockaway Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$223K to the City of Rockaway Beach for repairs26 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides59 households applied for aid$15K aid approved$30K to the City of Rockaway Beach for repairs
- 2006Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$10K to the City of Rockaway Beach for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$8K to the City of Rockaway Beach for repairs
Tillamook County has had 20 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 Tillamook County, 2020–2020.
Old photos of Rockaway Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rockaway Beach archive →Get ready for what Rockaway Beach 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.
- Strong shaking or a sudden drop in the sea means head for high ground now.
- Learn the tsunami route signs near the shore.
- Stay away until officials say it’s safe.
- 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 Rockaway Beach
Is Rockaway Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rockaway Beach has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (38%) and earthquakes (37%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rockaway Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 47 claims in Rockaway Beach since 1981, $823K in all, or 24.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Rockaway Beach 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 Tillamook County, 30% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 5.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Rockaway Beach?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rockaway Beach’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 Rockaway Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Rockaway Beach, Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2015): $223K to the City of Rockaway Beach for repairs.
Is Rockaway Beach at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (38%), and Rockaway Beach’s rate for it is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rockaway Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rockaway Beach’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.