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Navajo County, Arizona

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
11th of 15highest risk in Arizona
$40Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Navajo County, Arizona has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 88% of US counties. It ranks 11th of 15 counties in Arizona. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and lightning. FEMA estimates about $40 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $375 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2021 (severe storms and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (328 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $971,000 on 106 claims here.

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

Top risks in Navajo County

$20.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 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.
$12.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 225 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.

Lightning

Very High
$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 48 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate89.5
$20M
WildfireHigh98.8
$12M
LightningVery High99.5
$3M
Cold waveModerate73.0
$1M
EarthquakeLow81.2
$1M
Winter weatherVery High96.8
$522K
Heat waveLow56.7
$281K
Strong windLow40.1
$231K
DroughtLow52.0
$92K
Ice stormModerate63.3
$86K
HailLow34.8
$80K
LandslideModerate94.0
$57K
TornadoVery Low8.0
$25K
AvalancheVery Low50.9
$325
Volcanic activityVery Low53.7
$9

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 Navajo County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood7
Fire6
Severe Storm4
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 13, 2021Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 18, 2010Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2010Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 7, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 2006Potato FireFire management
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 17, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 14, 2003Kinishba FireFire management
Jun 25, 2002WildfiresMajor disaster
Jun 21, 2002Az - Chediski Farms Fire - 06/21/2002Fire management
Show all 19
Jun 19, 2002Rodeo FireFire management
Jun 12, 1999Az - Rainbow Fire - 06/11/1999Fire management
Jan 19, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 5, 1983Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 19, 1980Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 21, 1978Severe 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 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 328 storm reports in Navajo County since 1955, with 3 deaths and 4 injuries and about $156,500 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on October 18, 2005 near Kykotsmovi.

25tornadoes
58hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
35damaging thunderstorm winds
146floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 18, 2005F0Kykotsmovi0 / 0
Apr 20, 1973F0–0 / 0
May 25, 1996F0Kayenta0 / 0
May 25, 1996F0Oraibi0 / 0
Oct 22, 1997F0Holbrook0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 2, 2007LightningWinslow$50K
Aug 11, 2022Flash FloodTees To$30K
Sep 6, 2011Flash FloodWhiteriver$20K
Jul 20, 2011Flash FloodWhiteriver$20K
Oct 18, 2005TornadoKykotsmovi$10K
Jul 31, 2007LightningHolbrook$10K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 Navajo County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (328 policies)
14%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$971,187paid on 106 flood claims since 1978
1978costliest year, with $308,993 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 Navajo County

$201,500median home value (Arizona $394,500, US $332,700)
1989median year homes were built (Arizona 1992, US 1980)
34%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
19.1%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; 57,230 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
Coconino CountyModerate22
Apache CountyLow14
Gila CountyModerate21
Graham CountyLow11
San Juan County, UTVery Low4

Common questions about Navajo County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Navajo County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Navajo County, about $20.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $12.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Navajo County had?

Navajo County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in September 2021.

Is Navajo County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 11th 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 Navajo County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Navajo 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 Navajo County had?

NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Navajo County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on October 18, 2005 near Kykotsmovi. The weather service has also logged 58 hail reports and 146 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.