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Mohave County, Arizona

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

Relatively High overall risk
3rd of 15highest risk in Arizona
$105Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$73.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 10 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.
$14.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 175 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$12 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 10 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingHigh97.1
$74M
WildfireHigh98.8
$14M
Heat waveHigh98.6
$12M
EarthquakeLow87.1
$2M
LightningVery High98.0
$2M
Strong windModerate71.2
$632K
Winter weatherHigh91.4
$283K
HailLow51.1
$171K
Ice stormModerate68.7
$129K
TornadoVery Low3.3
$6K
DroughtVery Low20.8
$3K
LandslideLow67.0
$3K
AvalancheLow68.6
$2K
Volcanic activityVery Low60.9
$22
Cold waveVery Low2.6
$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

Flood4
Severe Storm4
Fire3
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 9, 2015Willow FireFire management
Jul 2, 2013Dean Peak FireFire management
Mar 18, 2010Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 12, 2005Az-Hulet Fire-06-11-2005Fire management
Apr 14, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 15, 1985Heavy Rain & High WindsMajor disaster
Oct 5, 1983Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 1, 1983FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 13
Feb 19, 1980Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1978Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 15, 1977DroughtEmergency

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.

18tornadoes
87hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
288damaging thunderstorm winds
702floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 18, 1972F1–1 / 0
Dec 27, 1983F1–0 / 0
Aug 6, 1983F1–0 / 0
Aug 12, 1976F1–0 / 0
Aug 6, 1974F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 13, 2012Flash FloodLake Havasu Cit$5M
Dec 21, 2010FloodBeaver Dam$4M
Aug 1, 2007Flash FloodKingman$2M
Aug 25, 2008Thunderstorm WindMohave Valley$2M
Aug 16, 2000Thunderstorm WindLake Havasu City$1M
Jan 22, 2010FloodWikieup$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 ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (568 policies)
18.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.9 millionpaid on 164 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $516,476 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 Mohave County

$281,000median home value (Arizona $394,500, US $332,700)
1995median year homes were built (Arizona 1992, US 1980)
19%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
24.4%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; 121,881 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
Clark County, NVVery High12
San Bernardino County, CAVery High59
Yavapai CountyModerate24
Washington County, UTModerate12
Coconino CountyModerate22
La Paz CountyModerate5
Kane County, UTVery Low6
Lincoln County, NVVery Low6

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.