Garfield County, Utah
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Garfield County, Utah has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 62% of US counties. It ranks 13th of 29 counties in Utah. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and lightning. FEMA estimates about $10 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,041 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2021 (Mammoth Fire). Only 29 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 Garfield 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.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
- 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 | 48.8 | $6M | ||
| Heat wave | 82.5 | $2M | ||
| Lightning | 89.8 | $1M | ||
| Avalanche | 85.7 | $913K | ||
| Earthquake | 64.1 | $510K | ||
| Wildfire | 78.3 | $300K | ||
| Winter weather | 86.7 | $275K | ||
| Landslide | 96.2 | $165K | ||
| Drought | 35.6 | $38K | ||
| Strong wind | 4.8 | $30K | ||
| Tornado | 2.4 | $4K | ||
| Ice storm | 8.4 | $4K | ||
| Cold wave | 3.6 | $3K | ||
| Hail | 1.2 | $1K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 75.9 | $188 |
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 moderate 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 Garfield 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 1972
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 191 storm reports in Garfield County since 1972, with 5 deaths and 5 injuries and about $1.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on September 22, 2016 near Panguitch.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 2016 | EF1 | Panguitch | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 8, 2000 | F0 | Panguitch | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 26, 2016 | EF0 | Panguitch | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 10, 2017 | EFU | Natch | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 23, 2003 | Flash Flood | Tropic | $650K |
| Sep 10, 2013 | Flood | Bryce Canyon Ar | $300K |
| Sep 22, 2016 | Tornado | Panguitch | $300K |
| Aug 26, 1996 | Flash Flood | Escalante Area | $100K |
| Jul 20, 2010 | Flash Flood | Tropic | $50K |
| Jun 17, 2011 | Flood | Hillsdale | $50K |
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 Garfield 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 Garfield 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; 3,620 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Iron County | 5 | |
| San Juan County | 4 | |
| Kane County | 6 | |
| Beaver County | 7 | |
| Wayne County | 2 | |
| Piute County | 7 |
Common questions about Garfield County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Garfield County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Garfield County, about $5.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $1.5 million.
How many federal disasters has Garfield County had?
Garfield County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Mammoth Fire in June 2021.
Is Garfield County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 13th 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 Garfield County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Garfield 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 Garfield County had?
NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Garfield County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on September 22, 2016 near Panguitch. The weather service has also logged 17 hail reports and 143 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.