Home › Arizona › Graham County

Graham County, Arizona

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

Relatively Low overall risk
14th of 15highest risk in Arizona
$18Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 63homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Graham County, Arizona has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 65% of US counties. It ranks 14th of 15 counties in Arizona. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $473 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2006 (severe storms and flooding). About 1 in 62 homes here carry federal flood insurance (209 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $355,000 on 43 claims here.

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

Top risks in Graham County

$9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$4.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.

Wildfire

Moderate
$2.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 180 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow67.9
$9M
Heat waveModerate95.0
$5M
WildfireModerate94.3
$2M
LightningHigh93.4
$1M
DroughtModerate79.5
$677K
EarthquakeVery Low47.9
$185K
Winter weatherModerate73.7
$117K
HailVery Low32.4
$99K
Strong windVery Low15.2
$95K
TornadoVery Low2.7
$4K
Cold waveVery Low3.7
$3K
HurricaneVery Low13.7
$2K
LandslideVery Low42.9
$608
AvalancheVery Low54.4
$591

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 relatively 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 Graham County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood7
Severe Storm2
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 7, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 14, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 19, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 6, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 5, 1983Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 21, 1978Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1978Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 15, 1977DroughtEmergency
Oct 25, 1972Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 11
Apr 30, 1966FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 184 storm reports in Graham County since 1958, with 1 death and 1 injury and about $8.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF0 tornado on July 31, 2015 near Safford.

1tornadoes
19hail reports, largest 4 inches
108damaging thunderstorm winds
52floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 31, 2015EF0Safford0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 8, 2016HailSafford$6M
Sep 5, 2021Thunderstorm WindSolomon$500K
Sep 19, 2018Flash FloodThatcher$250K
Jul 30, 2017Flash FloodArtesia$200K
Jul 25, 2003Thunderstorm WindFt Thomas$160K
Oct 8, 2016Flash FloodSafford$150K

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.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1992, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Graham County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Lester (1992), with top winds near 40 mph about 52 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1992most recent: Lester

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 24, 1992LesterTropical storm, 40 mph52 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 24, 1992LesterTropical storm, 40 mph52 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Graham County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (209 policies)
15.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$354,630paid on 43 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $207,699 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 Graham County

$212,000median home value (Arizona $394,500, US $332,700)
1987median year homes were built (Arizona 1992, US 1980)
39%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.8%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; 14,122 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
Pima CountyHigh13
Pinal CountyModerate21
Cochise CountyModerate12
Navajo CountyModerate19
Apache CountyLow14
Gila CountyModerate21
Greenlee CountyVery Low11

Common questions about Graham County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Graham County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Graham County, about $9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $4.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Graham County had?

Graham County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in September 2006.

Is Graham County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 14th 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 Graham County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 63 homes in Graham 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 Graham County had?

NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Graham County since 1950. The strongest was an EF0 tornado on July 31, 2015 near Safford. The weather service has also logged 19 hail reports and 52 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Graham County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Graham County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Lester (1992), with winds near 40 mph.

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.