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Apache County, Arizona

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
13th of 15highest risk in Arizona
$21Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Apache County, Arizona has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 79% of US counties. It ranks 13th of 15 counties in Arizona. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and lightning. FEMA estimates about $21 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $319 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (Greer Fire). Only 29 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $18,000 on 10 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Apache County

$10.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 170 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.

Lightning

Very High
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 53 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate80.7
$11M
WildfireHigh97.9
$6M
LightningVery High99.1
$2M
Cold waveLow62.7
$831K
EarthquakeLow67.7
$371K
Winter weatherHigh90.6
$224K
Heat waveLow46.7
$168K
DroughtLow50.3
$79K
Ice stormLow53.9
$53K
LandslideModerate93.5
$52K
Strong windVery Low8.3
$32K
HailVery Low8.6
$13K
TornadoVery Low3.6
$5K
HurricaneVery Low11.7
$1K
AvalancheVery Low50.7
$310
Volcanic activityVery Low57.3
$11

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Apache County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood5
Fire4
Severe Storm3
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

May 14, 2025Greer FireFire management
Sep 13, 2021Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 2, 2011Wallow FireFire management
Mar 18, 2010Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 17, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 9, 2004Three Forks FireFire management
Jun 25, 2002WildfiresMajor disaster
Jan 19, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 14
Oct 5, 1983Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1978Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 15, 1977DroughtEmergency
Sep 22, 1970Heavy Rains & FlashMajor disaster

Arizona also had 40 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 223 storm reports in Apache County since 1957, with 4 deaths and 2 injuries and about $272,500 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on October 27, 1974.

18tornadoes
21hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
23damaging thunderstorm winds
117floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 27, 1974F0–0 / 0
Aug 14, 1979F0–0 / 0
Sep 9, 2003F0Wide Ruin0 / 0
Jul 16, 2005F0St Johns0 / 0
Jul 16, 2005F0Concho0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 14, 2013Flash FloodDinnehotso$100K
Jul 24, 2011Flash FloodNutrioso$25K
Jul 4, 2011Flash FloodNazlini Arpt$20K
Aug 18, 2011Flash FloodNazlini Arpt$20K
Aug 5, 2011Flash FloodAlpine$20K
Jul 20, 2011Flash FloodAlpine$20K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 28, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Apache County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (29 policies)
11.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$18,328paid on 10 flood claims since 1978
2021costliest year, with $8,485 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Apache County

$63,700median home value (Arizona $394,500, US $332,700)
1987median year homes were built (Arizona 1992, US 1980)
34%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
22.7%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 28,997 housing units.

Compare in Arizona

All 15 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Maricopa CountyVery HighInland flooding
Pima CountyHighInland flooding
Pinal CountyModerateInland flooding
Yavapai CountyModerateInland flooding
Mohave CountyHighInland flooding
Yuma CountyModerateEarthquake
Coconino CountyModerateInland flooding
Cochise CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
San Juan County, NMModerate10
Navajo CountyModerate19
McKinley County, NMLow9
Graham CountyLow11
Cibola County, NMLow8
Montezuma County, COLow6
San Juan County, UTVery Low4
Greenlee CountyVery Low11

Common questions about Apache County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Apache County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Apache County, about $10.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $6 million.

How many federal disasters has Apache County had?

Apache County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Greer Fire in May 2025.

Is Apache County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 13th highest of 15 in Arizona. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Apache County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Apache County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Apache County had?

NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in Apache County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on October 27, 1974. The weather service has also logged 21 hail reports and 117 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.