Mohave County, Arizona
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Mohave County, Arizona has a relatively high overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 95% of US counties. It ranks 3rd of 15 counties in Arizona. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $105 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $493 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2015 (Willow Fire). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (568 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.9 million on 164 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Mohave County
- 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 97.1 | $74M | ||
| Wildfire | 98.8 | $14M | ||
| Heat wave | 98.6 | $12M | ||
| Earthquake | 87.1 | $2M | ||
| Lightning | 98.0 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 71.2 | $632K | ||
| Winter weather | 91.4 | $283K | ||
| Hail | 51.1 | $171K | ||
| Ice storm | 68.7 | $129K | ||
| Tornado | 3.3 | $6K | ||
| Drought | 20.8 | $3K | ||
| Landslide | 67.0 | $3K | ||
| Avalanche | 68.6 | $2K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 60.9 | $22 | ||
| Cold wave | 2.6 | $0 |
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 Mohave County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 13
Arizona also had 40 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1961
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 1,137 storm reports in Mohave County since 1961, with 11 deaths and 157 injuries and about $34.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on September 18, 1972.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 1972 | F1 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Dec 27, 1983 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 6, 1983 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 12, 1976 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 6, 1974 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 13, 2012 | Flash Flood | Lake Havasu Cit | $5M |
| Dec 21, 2010 | Flood | Beaver Dam | $4M |
| Aug 1, 2007 | Flash Flood | Kingman | $2M |
| Aug 25, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mohave Valley | $2M |
| Aug 16, 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lake Havasu City | $1M |
| Jan 22, 2010 | Flood | Wikieup | $1M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 23, 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 Mohave County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Mohave County
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; 121,881 housing units.
Compare in Arizona
All 15 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Maricopa County | Inland flooding | |
| Pima County | Inland flooding | |
| Pinal County | Inland flooding | |
| Yavapai County | Inland flooding | |
| Mohave County | Inland flooding | |
| Yuma County | Earthquake | |
| Coconino County | Inland flooding | |
| Cochise County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Clark County, NV | 12 | |
| San Bernardino County, CA | 59 | |
| Yavapai County | 24 | |
| Washington County, UT | 12 | |
| Coconino County | 22 | |
| La Paz County | 5 | |
| Kane County, UT | 6 | |
| Lincoln County, NV | 6 |
Cities in Mohave County
Common questions about Mohave County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Mohave County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Mohave County, about $73.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $14.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Mohave County had?
Mohave County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Willow Fire in August 2015.
Is Mohave County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively High, 3rd 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 Mohave County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Mohave 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 Mohave County had?
NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in Mohave County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on September 18, 1972. The weather service has also logged 87 hail reports and 702 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.