Photo: Mt. Hood Territory · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Sandy as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sandy gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #24 of 142 in Oregon. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%), then earthquakes (34%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1979.
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 Sandy 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 Sandy’s grade
River and rain flooding is 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sandy, and Sandy’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 34% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #24 of 142 in Oregon; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Sandy’s residents live in 4 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, Sandy has less expected damage per building than 84% of Oregon towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.1M a year in losses across Sandy: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sandy flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sandy, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Sandy isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Clackamas County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sandy
Disasters that paid out in Sandy itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Sandy), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Landslides, and Mudslides$178K to the City of Sandy for repairs
- 2020Wildfires and Straight-line Winds60 households applied for aid$17K aid approved$14K to the City of Sandy for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm, Record and Near Record Snow$31K to the City of Sandy for repairs
Clackamas County has had 15 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 5 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Clackamas County, 2014–2022.
Old photos of Sandy after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sandy archive →Get ready for what Sandy 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 Sandy
Is Sandy at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sandy has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #24 of 142 in Oregon. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%) and earthquakes (34%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Sandy flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Sandy since 1979, $574 in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Sandy 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 Clackamas County, 41% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Sandy?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sandy’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 Sandy?
By FEMA money that reached Sandy, Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Landslides, and Mudslides (2024): $178K to the City of Sandy for repairs.
Is Sandy at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Sandy’s rate for it is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sandy.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sandy’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.