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San Juan County, Utah

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

Very Low overall risk
15th of 29highest risk in Utah
$5Mexpected losses a year
4federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.
$913,391 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 15 years.
  • Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
  • Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
$775,891 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low24.0
$2M
AvalancheHigh89.0
$913K
Heat waveLow78.2
$776K
LandslideHigh98.5
$492K
LightningModerate81.0
$428K
WildfireLow82.3
$298K
EarthquakeVery Low55.7
$211K
Winter weatherModerate82.6
$135K
DroughtLow56.9
$130K
Strong windVery Low6.0
$23K
TornadoVery Low5.4
$13K
Ice stormVery Low22.9
$12K
HailVery Low2.4
$2K
Cold waveVery Low2.8
$4
Volcanic activityVery Low20.8
$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

Fire2
Drought1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jul 12, 2025Deer Creek FireFire management
Jun 10, 2021Pack Creek FireFire management
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 20, 1977DroughtEmergency

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.

7tornadoes
32hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
22damaging thunderstorm winds
69floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 12, 2025EF2La Sal0 / 0
Sep 13, 2025EF2Montezuma Creek0 / 0
Jun 6, 2015EF0Mexican Hat0 / 0
Jul 20, 2024EFUVerdure0 / 0
Jun 21, 2024EFULa Sal Jct0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 9, 2003Flash FloodBluff$1M
Aug 29, 2002Flash FloodGoulding$300K
Jun 7, 2006Thunderstorm WindBlanding$175K
Jun 26, 2009LightningMonticello$100K
Sep 7, 2002Flash FloodLa Sal Jct$80K
Aug 14, 2001Flash FloodBluff$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 ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (4 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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

$224,200median home value (Utah $489,400, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Utah 1992, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17.9%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; 5,679 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
Coconino County, AZModerate22
San Juan County, NMModerate10
Navajo County, AZModerate19
Apache County, AZLow14
Montrose County, COLow7
Montezuma County, COLow6
Emery CountyVery Low4

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.