Portland, OR (ZIP 97231) has a moderate disaster history with 21 recorded events. These include 10 earthquakes, 4 floods, and 3 tornadoes. Total documented property damage amounts to $2.1M. Across all recorded events, 1 death has been attributed to natural disasters in this area.
Earthquakes represent the most common natural hazard in this area, accounting for 48% of all recorded events (10 total). The most recent recorded earthquake occurred on Nov 19, 2012.
Portland has experienced 4 floods on record. Of these, 3 (75%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for flood-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). Flood-related events have caused a combined $1.5M in documented property damage. 1 fatality has been attributed to floods in this area. The most recent recorded flood occurred on Dec 4, 2023.
Portland has experienced 3 tornadoes on record. Tornado-related events have caused a combined $575K in documented property damage. The most recent recorded tornado occurred on Jan 10, 2008.
Portland has experienced 2 hailstorms on record. The most recent recorded hailstorm occurred on Jul 31, 1991.
Portland has experienced 2 wildfires on record. The most recent recorded wildfire occurred on May 4, 2021.
The most significant disaster event on record for Portland was Flood on Jun 1, 2011, which caused $1.2M in property damage. Another major event was EF1 Tornado (Jan 10, 2008), causing $525K in damages.
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Based on federal and state records, ZIP code 97231 has experienced 21 natural disaster events. The hazard types affecting this area include earthquakes (10 events), floods (4 events), tornadoes (3 events), hailstorms (2 events), and wildfires (2 events). The primary hazard is earthquakes, which account for 48% of all recorded events.
Earthquakes are the most frequently recorded hazard in Portland, OR, with 10 events documented.
Yes, Portland (ZIP 97231) has 4 recorded flood events. These floods have caused $1.5M in total property damage. The most recent flood on record occurred on Dec 4, 2023.
Portland has 3 recorded tornado events in the historical record. Total property damage from tornadoes in this area is $575K. The most recent tornado was recorded on Jan 10, 2008.
The most damaging natural disaster on record for ZIP code 97231 was Flood, which occurred on Jun 1, 2011. This event caused $1.2M in documented property damage. It was rated at severity level 5/5.
Natural disasters have caused a documented total of $2.1M in property damage in the Portland, OR area (ZIP 97231). This figure is based on historical records from FEMA, NOAA Storm Events Database, and USGS, and covers events from the 1950s through the present. Actual damages may be higher, as not all events have complete damage assessments.
Data sourced from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →