Natural hazards · Independence

Independence, OR natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Independence comes from earthquakes, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Independence?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Independence to be higher than in 76% of U.S. communities, mostly from earthquakes and inland flooding.

Earthquakes55%Inland flooding36%Heat waves7%Everything else2%

By hazard

What Independence faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Earthquakes

55% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. places

Inland flooding

36% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 71% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Heat waves

7% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 80% of U.S. places

Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningVolcanic activity

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesDroughtAvalanchesTsunamis

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Independence flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Independence.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Independence isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Polk County.

Disasters that hit Independence

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Independence itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Independence.

Brought FEMA money into IndependenceDeclared for Polk County only

2021

Severe Winter Storm

$110K to the City of Independence for repairs

2012

Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$150K to the City of Independence for repairs

2008

Severe Winter Storm, Record and Near Record Snow

$8K to the City of Independence for repairs

2007

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

2 households applied for aid $2K aid approved

2006

Severe Winter Storm and Flooding

$5K to the City of Independence for repairs

2003

Severe Winter Storms

$5K to the City of Independence for repairs

Polk County has had 13 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Independence covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Independence’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Independence. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Independence total about $4.3M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.