Davis County, Utah
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Davis County, Utah 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 4th of 29 counties in Utah. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and lightning. FEMA estimates about $128 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $352 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2021 (straight-line winds). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (329 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.1 million on 185 claims here, including $754,000 for floods in 1984.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Davis County
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- 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.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | 98.0 | $89M | ||
| Inland flooding | 59.5 | $16M | ||
| Lightning | 97.1 | $5M | ||
| Heat wave | 86.3 | $4M | ||
| Strong wind | 87.0 | $3M | ||
| Avalanche | 90.4 | $3M | ||
| Wildfire | 90.6 | $3M | ||
| Cold wave | 51.5 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 34.4 | $1M | ||
| Winter weather | 87.9 | $636K | ||
| Landslide | 94.7 | $217K | ||
| Drought | 41.1 | $134K | ||
| Hail | 17.7 | $113K | ||
| Ice storm | 34.4 | $73K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 45.6 | $17 |
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 low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Davis 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 1953
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 181 storm reports in Davis County since 1953, with 1 death and 2 injuries and about $4.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 3, 1963.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 3, 1963 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 2, 2021 | EF1 | Bountiful Sky Hvn Ar | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 23, 1992 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 29, 1996 | F0 | Syracuse | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 4, 1998 | F0 | Layton | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 2023 | Flood | East Layton | $1M |
| Sep 2, 2021 | Tornado | Bountiful Sky Hvn Ar | $750K |
| Aug 26, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kaysville | $500K |
| May 29, 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Clearfield | $300K |
| Aug 30, 2000 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $210K |
| Aug 19, 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Layton | $150K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 29, 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 Davis 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 Davis 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; 120,879 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake County | 10 | |
| Weber County | 9 | |
| Tooele County | 9 | |
| Box Elder County | 7 | |
| Morgan County | 8 |
Cities in Davis County
Common questions about Davis County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Davis County?
Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Davis County, about $89.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $16.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Davis County had?
Davis County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Straight-Line Winds in January 2021.
Is Davis County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 4th 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 Davis County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Davis 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 Davis County had?
NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Davis County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 3, 1963. The weather service has also logged 29 hail reports and 13 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.