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Yavapai County, Arizona

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
6th of 15highest risk in Arizona
$108Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 83homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Yavapai 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 6th of 15 counties in Arizona. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and lightning. FEMA estimates about $108 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $457 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2022 (Crooks Fire). About 1 in 83 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,396 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.3 million on 470 claims here.

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

Top risks in Yavapai County

$69.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 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.
$28.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 185 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.

Lightning

Very High
$3.2 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 floodingHigh96.1
$70M
WildfireHigh99.6
$29M
LightningVery High98.9
$3M
EarthquakeLow85.3
$2M
Heat waveModerate85.0
$2M
HailModerate89.8
$1M
Winter weatherHigh94.3
$461K
TornadoLow32.7
$451K
Strong windLow41.5
$323K
DroughtVery Low29.4
$17K
LandslideLow70.0
$5K
AvalancheVery Low53.8
$560
Volcanic activityVery Low57.0
$16
Cold waveVery Low2.8
$5

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 Yavapai County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire13
Flood5
Severe Storm4
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Apr 19, 2022Crooks FireFire management
May 27, 2021Spur FireFire management
May 11, 201889 East FireFire management
Jun 25, 2017Goodwin FireFire management
Jun 8, 2016Tenderfoot FireFire management
Jun 30, 2013Yarnell Hill FireFire management
Jun 19, 2013Doce FireFire management
Mar 18, 2010Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2008Lane 2 FireFire management
Jun 2, 2006La Barranca FireFire management
Show all 24
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 23, 2005Az-Humbug Fire 06-23--2005Fire management
Jun 22, 2005Cave Creek Fire ComplexFire management
Apr 14, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 28, 2004Willow FireFire management
May 15, 2002Az - Indian Fire - 5/15/2002Fire 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
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 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 928 storm reports in Yavapai County since 1952, with 10 deaths and 7 injuries and about $35.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on August 10, 1972.

29tornadoes
183hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
171damaging thunderstorm winds
366floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 10, 1972F3–0 / 0
Sep 13, 1996F1Chino Vly0 / 0
Nov 2, 1959F1–0 / 0
May 1, 1980F1–0 / 0
Sep 27, 2014EF0Groom Creek0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 15, 1999HailPrescott$18M
Jul 19, 2017Flash FloodMayer$7M
Sep 10, 2009Flash FloodOak Creek Canyon Arp$3M
Jul 18, 2018HailWhipple$2M
Aug 23, 2015Thunderstorm WindRimrock$1M
Feb 14, 2019Flash FloodBeaver Creek$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 22, 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 Yavapai County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (1,396 policies)
24.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6.3 millionpaid on 470 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $1.2 million 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 Yavapai County

$425,200median home value (Arizona $394,500, US $332,700)
1995median year homes were built (Arizona 1992, US 1980)
23%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17%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; 126,095 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
Mohave CountyHigh13
Coconino CountyModerate22
Gila CountyModerate21
La Paz CountyModerate5

Common questions about Yavapai County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Yavapai County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Yavapai County, about $69.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $28.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Yavapai County had?

Yavapai County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Crooks Fire in April 2022.

Is Yavapai County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 6th 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 Yavapai County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 83 homes in Yavapai 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 Yavapai County had?

NOAA records list 29 tornadoes in Yavapai County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on August 10, 1972. The weather service has also logged 183 hail reports and 366 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.