San Juan County, Utah
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
San Juan County, Utah has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 73% of US counties. It ranks 15th of 29 counties in Utah. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, avalanches and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $5.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $349 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (no major disasters). The most recent was in July 2025 (Deer Creek Fire). Only 4 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 San Juan 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 avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
- Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 24.0 | $2M | ||
| Avalanche | 89.0 | $913K | ||
| Heat wave | 78.2 | $776K | ||
| Landslide | 98.5 | $492K | ||
| Lightning | 81.0 | $428K | ||
| Wildfire | 82.3 | $298K | ||
| Earthquake | 55.7 | $211K | ||
| Winter weather | 82.6 | $135K | ||
| Drought | 56.9 | $130K | ||
| Strong wind | 6.0 | $23K | ||
| Tornado | 5.4 | $13K | ||
| Ice storm | 22.9 | $12K | ||
| Hail | 2.4 | $2K | ||
| Cold wave | 2.8 | $4 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 20.8 | $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 high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included San Juan 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 1957
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 207 storm reports in San Juan County since 1957, with 1 death and 1 injury and about $2.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on July 12, 2025 near La Sal.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 12, 2025 | EF2 | La Sal | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 13, 2025 | EF2 | Montezuma Creek | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 6, 2015 | EF0 | Mexican Hat | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 20, 2024 | EFU | Verdure | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 21, 2024 | EFU | La Sal Jct | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 9, 2003 | Flash Flood | Bluff | $1M |
| Aug 29, 2002 | Flash Flood | Goulding | $300K |
| Jun 7, 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blanding | $175K |
| Jun 26, 2009 | Lightning | Monticello | $100K |
| Sep 7, 2002 | Flash Flood | La Sal Jct | $80K |
| Aug 14, 2001 | Flash Flood | Bluff | $60K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Sep 13, 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 San Juan 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 San Juan 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; 5,679 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mesa County, CO | 6 | |
| Coconino County, AZ | 22 | |
| San Juan County, NM | 10 | |
| Navajo County, AZ | 19 | |
| Apache County, AZ | 14 | |
| Montrose County, CO | 7 | |
| Montezuma County, CO | 6 | |
| Emery County | 4 |
Common questions about San Juan County
What is the biggest natural hazard in San Juan County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in San Juan County, about $1.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Avalanche is second at $913,391.
How many federal disasters has San Juan County had?
San Juan County has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including no major disasters. The most recent was Deer Creek Fire in July 2025.
Is San Juan County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 15th 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 San Juan County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in San Juan 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 San Juan County had?
NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in San Juan County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on July 12, 2025 near La Sal. The weather service has also logged 32 hail reports and 69 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.