Yavapai County, Arizona
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Go indoors when you hear thunder.
- Use surge protectors for electronics.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 96.1 | $70M | ||
| Wildfire | 99.6 | $29M | ||
| Lightning | 98.9 | $3M | ||
| Earthquake | 85.3 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 85.0 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 89.8 | $1M | ||
| Winter weather | 94.3 | $461K | ||
| Tornado | 32.7 | $451K | ||
| Strong wind | 41.5 | $323K | ||
| Drought | 29.4 | $17K | ||
| Landslide | 70.0 | $5K | ||
| Avalanche | 53.8 | $560 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 57.0 | $16 | ||
| Cold wave | 2.8 | $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
Most recent
Show all 24
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 10, 1972 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 13, 1996 | F1 | Chino Vly | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 2, 1959 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 1, 1980 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 27, 2014 | EF0 | Groom Creek | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 15, 1999 | Hail | Prescott | $18M |
| Jul 19, 2017 | Flash Flood | Mayer | $7M |
| Sep 10, 2009 | Flash Flood | Oak Creek Canyon Arp | $3M |
| Jul 18, 2018 | Hail | Whipple | $2M |
| Aug 23, 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Rimrock | $1M |
| Feb 14, 2019 | Flash Flood | Beaver 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Maricopa County | 24 | |
| Mohave County | 13 | |
| Coconino County | 22 | |
| Gila County | 21 | |
| La Paz County | 5 |
Cities in Yavapai County
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.