Duchesne County, Utah
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 15.3 | $3M | ||
| Lightning | 82.0 | $1M | ||
| Earthquake | 60.0 | $621K | ||
| Wildfire | 80.4 | $577K | ||
| Drought | 49.7 | $193K | ||
| Heat wave | 21.0 | $93K | ||
| Winter weather | 49.6 | $86K | ||
| Landslide | 89.6 | $75K | ||
| Strong wind | 6.5 | $60K | ||
| Tornado | 7.0 | $47K | ||
| Cold wave | 5.7 | $36K | ||
| Avalanche | 74.6 | $18K | ||
| Hail | 4.5 | $14K | ||
| Ice storm | 8.2 | $6K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 26.4 | $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
Most recent
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 11, 1993 | F3 | Roosevelt | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 19, 2022 | EF2 | Fruitland | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 11, 1984 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 8, 1990 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 23, 2005 | F0 | Duchesne | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 13, 2011 | Flash Flood | Tabiona | $200K |
| Jun 9, 2000 | Lightning | Myton | $200K |
| Jul 22, 2018 | Flash Flood | Fruitland | $150K |
| Sep 22, 2016 | Flood | Roosevelt Muni | $100K |
| Jul 19, 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Myton | $80K |
| Jul 15, 2013 | Lightning | Altamont | $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 ›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
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 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 | |
| Summit County | 8 | |
| Uintah County | 6 | |
| Wasatch County | 9 | |
| Carbon County | 3 | |
| Daggett County | 5 |
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.