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Duchesne County, Utah

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

Very Low overall risk
22nd of 29highest risk in Utah
$5Mexpected losses a year
6federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Duchesne County, Utah has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 92% of US counties. It ranks 22nd of 29 counties in Utah. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, lightning and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $5.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $279 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2018 (Dollar Ridge Fire). Only 6 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 Duchesne County

$2.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 49 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
$620,681 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 180 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low15.3
$3M
LightningHigh82.0
$1M
EarthquakeLow60.0
$621K
WildfireLow80.4
$577K
DroughtLow49.7
$193K
Heat waveVery Low21.0
$93K
Winter weatherLow49.6
$86K
LandslideModerate89.6
$75K
Strong windVery Low6.5
$60K
TornadoVery Low7.0
$47K
Cold waveVery Low5.7
$36K
AvalancheLow74.6
$18K
HailVery Low4.5
$14K
Ice stormVery Low8.2
$6K
Volcanic activityVery Low26.4
$2

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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Duchesne County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood2
Fire2
Drought1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jul 2, 2018Dollar Ridge FireFire management
Aug 8, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2007Neola North FireFire management
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
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 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 99 storm reports in Duchesne County since 1960, with 3 deaths and 4 injuries and about $1.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on August 11, 1993 near Roosevelt.

5tornadoes
28hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
33damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 11, 1993F3Roosevelt0 / 0
Jun 19, 2022EF2Fruitland0 / 0
Sep 11, 1984F0–0 / 0
Jul 8, 1990F0–0 / 0
Jun 23, 2005F0Duchesne0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 13, 2011Flash FloodTabiona$200K
Jun 9, 2000LightningMyton$200K
Jul 22, 2018Flash FloodFruitland$150K
Sep 22, 2016FloodRoosevelt Muni$100K
Jul 19, 2008Thunderstorm WindMyton$80K
Jul 15, 2013LightningAltamont$80K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 28, 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 Duchesne County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (6 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$9,196paid on 6 flood claims since 1978
1983costliest year, with $9,196 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 Duchesne County

$283,700median home value (Utah $489,400, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Utah 1992, US 1980)
40%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
20%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; 9,028 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
Utah CountyHigh11
Summit CountyLow8
Uintah CountyVery Low6
Wasatch CountyVery Low9
Carbon CountyVery Low3
Daggett CountyVery Low5

Common questions about Duchesne County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Duchesne County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Duchesne County, about $2.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Lightning is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Duchesne County had?

Duchesne County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Dollar Ridge Fire in July 2018.

Is Duchesne County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 22nd 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 Duchesne County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Duchesne 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 Duchesne County had?

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Duchesne County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on August 11, 1993 near Roosevelt. The weather service has also logged 28 hail reports and 22 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.