Photo: M.O. Stevens · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Tualatin as in the typical U.S. town, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tualatin gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #41 of 142 in Oregon. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (49%), then earthquakes (49%). Flood insurance has paid 44 claims here since 1996.
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 Tualatin 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 Tualatin’s grade
River and rain flooding is 49% of the building damage FEMA expects in Tualatin, and Tualatin’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 49% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #41 of 142 in Oregon; higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Tualatin’s residents live in 9 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, Tualatin has less expected damage per building than 72% of Oregon towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $17.0M a year in losses across Tualatin: $12.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Tualatin flood? Sometimes: 44 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Tualatin, from FEMA’s records: 3.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Tualatin isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Washington County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Tualatin
Disasters that paid out in Tualatin itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Tualatin), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2008Severe Winter Storm, Record and Near Record Snow$59K to the City of Tualatin for repairs
Washington County has had 11 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 3 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Washington County, 2020–2024.
Old photos of Tualatin after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Tualatin archive →Tualatin and its neighbors
Tualatin is 2nd of the 7 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwood | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Tualatin | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Stafford | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Lake Oswego | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 56 |
| Tigard | Cmore damage than 72% | earthquakes | 13 |
| Durham | C−more damage than 78% | earthquakes | — |
| King City | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Rivergrove | — | 657 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Tualatin 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 Tualatin
Is Tualatin at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tualatin has higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #41 of 142 in Oregon. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (49%) and earthquakes (49%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Tualatin flood?
Flood insurance has paid 44 claims in Tualatin since 1996, $1.4M in all, or 3.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Tualatin 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 Washington County, 38% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Tualatin?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Tualatin’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 Tualatin?
By FEMA money that reached Tualatin, Severe Winter Storm, Record and Near Record Snow (2008): $59K to the City of Tualatin for repairs.
Is Tualatin at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (49%), and Tualatin’s rate for it is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Tualatin.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Tualatin’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.