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Davis County, Utah

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
4th of 29highest risk in Utah
$128Mexpected losses a year
9federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

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

Earthquake

Moderate
$89.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 65 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$16.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • 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.

Lightning

Very High
$4.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 34 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeModerate98.0
$89M
Inland floodingLow59.5
$16M
LightningVery High97.1
$5M
Heat waveModerate86.3
$4M
Strong windHigh87.0
$3M
AvalancheHigh90.4
$3M
WildfireModerate90.6
$3M
Cold waveLow51.5
$2M
TornadoLow34.4
$1M
Winter weatherHigh87.9
$636K
LandslideModerate94.7
$217K
DroughtLow41.1
$134K
HailVery Low17.7
$113K
Ice stormLow34.4
$73K
Volcanic activityVery Low45.6
$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

Flood2
Severe Storm2
Fire2
Drought1
Coastal Storm1
Earthquake1

Most recent

Jan 12, 2021Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2020Earthquake and AftershocksMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2019Gun Range FireFire management
Sep 5, 2017Uintah FireFire management
Feb 1, 2012Severe StormMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 17, 1984Severe Storms, Mudslides, Landslides & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 30, 1983Severe Storms, Landslides & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 20, 1977DroughtEmergency

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.

11tornadoes
29hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
115damaging thunderstorm winds
13floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 3, 1963F2–0 / 0
Sep 2, 2021EF1Bountiful Sky Hvn Ar0 / 0
Sep 23, 1992F1–0 / 0
May 29, 1996F0Syracuse0 / 0
Jun 4, 1998F0Layton0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 12, 2023FloodEast Layton$1M
Sep 2, 2021TornadoBountiful Sky Hvn Ar$750K
Aug 26, 1998Thunderstorm WindKaysville$500K
May 29, 1996Thunderstorm WindClearfield$300K
Aug 30, 2000Flash FloodCountywide$210K
Aug 19, 2024Thunderstorm WindLayton$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 ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (329 policies)
11.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.1 millionpaid on 185 flood claims since 1978
1984costliest year, with $753,769 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 Davis County

$505,500median home value (Utah $489,400, US $332,700)
1993median year homes were built (Utah 1992, US 1980)
32%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.6%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; 120,879 housing units.

Compare in Utah

All 29 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Salt Lake CountyHighEarthquake
Utah CountyHighEarthquake
Davis CountyModerateEarthquake
Weber CountyModerateEarthquake
Washington CountyModerateWildfire
Cache CountyLowEarthquake
Tooele CountyLowWildfire
Box Elder CountyLowEarthquake

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Salt Lake CountyHigh10
Weber CountyModerate9
Tooele CountyLow9
Box Elder CountyLow7
Morgan CountyVery Low8

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.