Rich County, Utah
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Rich County, Utah has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 99% of US counties. It ranks 29th of 29 counties in Utah. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $1.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $646 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (1 major disaster). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). Only 2 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 Rich 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- 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 | 3.0 | $696K | ||
| Wildfire | 75.9 | $390K | ||
| Earthquake | 36.8 | $171K | ||
| Winter weather | 58.5 | $119K | ||
| Strong wind | 7.1 | $69K | ||
| Cold wave | 6.0 | $42K | ||
| Landslide | 85.2 | $42K | ||
| Lightning | 7.4 | $33K | ||
| Drought | 29.4 | $32K | ||
| Avalanche | 73.1 | $11K | ||
| Tornado | 2.8 | $9K | ||
| Hail | 1.9 | $4K | ||
| Ice storm | 2.7 | $1K | ||
| Heat wave | 1.8 | $0 |
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 Rich 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 1954
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 34 storm reports in Rich County since 1954 and about $367,300 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on May 25, 1954.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25, 1954 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 23, 1965 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 7, 2017 | Flood | Garden City | $250K |
| Aug 1, 2021 | Flash Flood | Randolph | $50K |
| Jul 31, 2021 | Flood | Randolph | $30K |
| May 25, 1954 | Tornado | – | $25K |
| Aug 14, 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Woodruff | $4K |
| Jun 23, 1965 | Tornado | – | $3K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 7, 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 Rich 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 Rich 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; 3,373 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Weber County | 9 | |
| Cache County | 5 | |
| Summit County | 8 | |
| Uinta County, WY | 3 | |
| Lincoln County, WY | 3 | |
| Franklin County, ID | 2 | |
| Morgan County | 8 | |
| Bear Lake County, ID | 2 |
Common questions about Rich County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Rich County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Rich County, about $695,825 a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $390,206.
How many federal disasters has Rich County had?
Rich County has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 1 major disaster. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.
Is Rich County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 29th 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 Rich County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Rich 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 Rich County had?
NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Rich County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on May 25, 1954. The weather service has also logged 2 hail reports and 3 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.