In 1996-1997 Oregon was hit by devastating floods and landslides caused by heavy rain and melting snow, which resulted in several fatalities and $280,000,000 in damage. Following this series of events, Governor John Kitzhaber looked to state agencies to find ways to reduce the state’s vulnerability to natural hazards. Kitzhaber specifically called on the state’s Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) to review the Statewide Land Use Planning Goal 7—Areas Subject to Natural Disasters and Hazards.

The Community Service Center at the University of Oregon was hired to evaluate the status of Goal 7 and natural hazards planning in Oregon. The investigation showed that many communities experience difficulties in evaluating development proposals and implementing hazard risk reduction policies. Specifically, the report concluded the following:

• Most communities have not considered the cumulative impacts of development in hazardous areas.
• Many communities, particularly rural communities, suffer from a lack of technical resources. The report identified a need for better technical assistance to local governments, business, and the general public.
• Oregon could benefit enormously from increased coordination among small businesses, government, community-based organizations, and citizens involved in natural hazards inventorying, as well as from development of effective statewide hazard mitigation policies.

In response to these findings, the Community Service Center began to work in partnership with government agencies and organizations to develop tools to strengthen the state’s risk and loss reduction efforts. In 2000, the Community Service Center established the Oregon Natural Hazards Workgroup (ONHW) to work on the complex issues surrounding natural hazards risk reduction.

In 2007, the Partnership's Advisory Committee and CSC staff decided to consolidate the ONHW and the Partners for Disaster Resistance & Resilience: Oregon Showcase State Initiative name into the Partnership for Disaster Resilience so that all activities of the Partnership are clearly defined under one name.