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Pinal County, Arizona

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
5th of 15highest risk in Arizona
$137Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: Ammodramus, CC0

Pinal County, Arizona has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 94% of US counties. It ranks 5th of 15 counties in Arizona. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $137 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $324 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (Cody Fire). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (839 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.5 million on 150 claims here.

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

Top risks in Pinal County

$92.4 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.
$23.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 13 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
$12.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 440 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 floodingHigh96.4
$92M
Heat waveHigh98.9
$24M
WildfireHigh98.0
$12M
DroughtHigh95.7
$3M
LightningVery High97.0
$2M
EarthquakeLow79.8
$2M
Strong windModerate75.3
$1M
HailModerate82.3
$954K
TornadoLow37.1
$712K
Winter weatherVery Low15.6
$12K
HurricaneVery Low18.8
$5K
Cold waveVery Low3.4
$1K
LandslideVery Low50.8
$1K
AvalancheVery Low26.2
$69

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 moderate 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 Pinal County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire10
Flood6
Severe Storm3
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

May 22, 2025Cody FireFire management
Jul 9, 2024Shake FireFire management
May 29, 2024Simmons FireFire management
Jun 6, 2021Telegraph FireFire management
Apr 8, 2021Margo FireFire management
Jul 8, 2017Roach FireFire management
Jun 17, 2015Kearny River FireFire management
Sep 7, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 26, 2005Vekol Fire-05-26-2005Fire management
Show all 21
Apr 14, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 18, 2003Aspen FireFire management
Jul 14, 2002Az - Oracle Hills Fire - 07/14/2002Fire management
Oct 27, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 19, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 6, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 5, 1983Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 4, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 15, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jul 3, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 30, 1966FloodingMajor 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 740 storm reports in Pinal County since 1955, with 9 deaths and 71 injuries and about $36.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on June 21, 1972.

30tornadoes
78hail reports, largest 2 inches
414damaging thunderstorm winds
162floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 21, 1972F1–8 / 0
Sep 1, 1971F1–0 / 0
Jun 21, 1972F1–5 / 0
Sep 5, 1981F1–0 / 0
Nov 18, 1986F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 25, 2021FloodFriendly Corners$8M
Aug 13, 2007Thunderstorm WindArizola$5M
Jun 21, 1972Tornado–$3M
Sep 18, 2004Flash FloodFlorence$2M
Sep 2, 2022LightningBapchule$2M
Aug 18, 2011Thunderstorm WindEloy$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 25, 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 Pinal County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (839 policies)
20.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.5 millionpaid on 150 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $852,418 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 Pinal County

$349,000median home value (Arizona $394,500, US $332,700)
2004median year homes were built (Arizona 1992, US 1980)
14%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
15.8%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; 184,651 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
Maricopa CountyVery High24
Pima CountyHigh13
Gila CountyModerate21
Graham CountyLow11

Common questions about Pinal County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Pinal County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Pinal County, about $92.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $23.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Pinal County had?

Pinal County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Cody Fire in May 2025.

Is Pinal County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 5th 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 Pinal County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Pinal 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 Pinal County had?

NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Pinal County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on June 21, 1972. The weather service has also logged 78 hail reports and 162 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.