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Grand County, Utah

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

Very Low overall risk
20th of 29highest risk in Utah
$5Mexpected losses a year
2federal declarations
1 in 45homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Grand County, Utah has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 90% of US counties. It ranks 20th of 29 counties in Utah. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, lightning and avalanches. FEMA estimates about $5.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $539 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 2 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (no major disasters). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). About 1 in 45 homes here carry federal flood insurance (101 policies).

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Grand County

$3.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • 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 48 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.

Avalanche

Moderate
$456,669 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 30 years.
  • Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
  • Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low25.4
$3M
LightningHigh87.2
$1M
AvalancheModerate80.6
$457K
Heat waveVery Low32.3
$161K
EarthquakeVery Low32.7
$101K
WildfireVery Low58.6
$81K
DroughtLow38.8
$62K
Winter weatherLow25.8
$25K
LandslideLow82.4
$24K
Strong windVery Low3.7
$23K
TornadoVery Low5.0
$20K
HailVery Low2.5
$4K
Ice stormVery Low5.6
$3K
Cold waveVery Low3.2
$511

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 low 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 Grand County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Drought1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 20, 1977DroughtEmergency

Utah also had 7 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1968

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 234 storm reports in Grand County since 1968, with 5 deaths and 3 injuries and about $44 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 10, 1970.

4tornadoes
26hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
56damaging thunderstorm winds
94floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 10, 1970F2–0 / 0
Apr 18, 2000F0Moab0 / 0
Sep 8, 2000F0Moab0 / 0
Sep 22, 2006F0Moab0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 2, 2022Flash FloodPotash$26M
Aug 20, 2022Flash FloodMoab$10M
Aug 19, 2010Flash FloodPotash$3M
Jul 28, 2021Flash FloodMoab$3M
Aug 5, 2017Flash FloodWestwater Arpt$1M
Oct 6, 2006FloodMoab$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Sep 12, 2025. 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 Grand County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (101 policies)
32.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$146,466paid on 8 flood claims since 1978
2022costliest year, with $117,598 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 Grand County

$538,700median home value (Utah $489,400, US $332,700)
1988median year homes were built (Utah 1992, US 1980)
40%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
15.1%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; 5,424 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
Mesa County, COLow6
Garfield County, COLow10
Montrose County, COLow7
Uintah CountyVery Low6
Carbon CountyVery Low3
San Juan CountyVery Low4
Emery CountyVery Low4
Wayne CountyVery Low2

Common questions about Grand County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Grand County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Grand County, about $3.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Lightning is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Grand County had?

Grand County has been included in 2 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including no major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.

Is Grand County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 20th 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 Grand County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 45 homes in Grand 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 Grand County had?

NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Grand County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 10, 1970. The weather service has also logged 26 hail reports and 94 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.