Carbon County, Utah
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Carbon County, Utah has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 91% of US counties. It ranks 21st of 29 counties in Utah. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and lightning. FEMA estimates about $4.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $221 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (1 major disaster). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). Only 40 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Carbon 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- 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 | 22.8 | $3M | ||
| Earthquake | 64.9 | $623K | ||
| Lightning | 71.3 | $541K | ||
| Wildfire | 66.8 | $140K | ||
| Heat wave | 26.1 | $110K | ||
| Winter weather | 62.7 | $103K | ||
| Tornado | 12.3 | $101K | ||
| Strong wind | 6.5 | $45K | ||
| Drought | 30.9 | $29K | ||
| Landslide | 80.0 | $16K | ||
| Hail | 3.8 | $8K | ||
| Ice storm | 8.1 | $4K | ||
| Avalanche | 64.5 | $2K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 37.5 | $5 | ||
| Cold wave | 2.3 | $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 relatively low and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Carbon County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Utah also had 7 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1985
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 63 storm reports in Carbon County since 1985, with 3 deaths and 2 injuries and about $8.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF0 tornado on July 26, 2010 near Carbon Co Arpt.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 26, 2010 | EF0 | Carbon Co Arpt | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 25, 2001 | F0 | Price | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 2016 | Flash Flood | East Carbon City | $4M |
| Aug 4, 2014 | Flash Flood | Carbon Co Arpt | $3M |
| Sep 27, 2014 | Flash Flood | Jacobs | $1M |
| Sep 12, 2002 | Flash Flood | Sunnyside | $500K |
| Jun 21, 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Price | $300K |
| Sep 13, 1996 | Flash Flood | Wellington | $100K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 9, 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 Carbon 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 Carbon 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; 9,669 housing units.
Compare in Utah
All 29 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake County | Earthquake | |
| Utah County | Earthquake | |
| Davis County | Earthquake | |
| Weber County | Earthquake | |
| Washington County | Wildfire | |
| Cache County | Earthquake | |
| Tooele County | Wildfire | |
| Box Elder County | Earthquake |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Utah County | 11 | |
| Uintah County | 6 | |
| Sanpete County | 8 | |
| Duchesne County | 6 | |
| Emery County | 4 | |
| Grand County | 2 |
Common questions about Carbon County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Carbon County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Carbon County, about $2.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $622,810.
How many federal disasters has Carbon County had?
Carbon County has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 1 major disaster. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.
Is Carbon County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 21st highest of 29 in Utah. 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 Carbon County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Carbon 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 Carbon County had?
NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Carbon County since 1950. The strongest was an EF0 tornado on July 26, 2010 near Carbon Co Arpt. The weather service has also logged 24 hail reports and 19 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.