Sanpete County, Utah
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Sanpete County, Utah has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 61% of US counties. It ranks 12th of 29 counties in Utah. The costliest hazards here are avalanches, inland flooding and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $427 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in December 2023 (flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (81 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $41,000 on 12 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Sanpete County
- Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
- Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
- 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.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalanche | 95.5 | $4M | ||
| Inland flooding | 24.5 | $3M | ||
| Earthquake | 83.4 | $2M | ||
| Wildfire | 89.0 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 80.1 | $726K | ||
| Heat wave | 45.3 | $296K | ||
| Drought | 56.3 | $222K | ||
| Winter weather | 78.9 | $198K | ||
| Tornado | 12.5 | $101K | ||
| Strong wind | 11.9 | $90K | ||
| Landslide | 79.1 | $14K | ||
| Ice storm | 12.0 | $7K | ||
| Hail | 3.1 | $6K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 48.5 | $11 |
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 Sanpete 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 1955
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 47 storm reports in Sanpete County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $4.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on September 8, 2002 near Manti.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 8, 2002 | F2 | Manti | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 16, 1955 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 28, 1964 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 25, 2005 | F0 | Mt Pleasant | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 15, 1984 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 8, 2002 | Tornado | Manti | $2M |
| Jul 22, 1998 | Flash Flood | Spring City | $1M |
| Jul 27, 1998 | Flash Flood | Spring City | $300K |
| Jul 24, 1998 | Flash Flood | Spring City | $220K |
| Jun 1, 2011 | Flood | Axtell | $100K |
| Jul 30, 2012 | Flash Flood | Fountain Green | $100K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 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 Sanpete 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 Sanpete 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; 10,578 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Utah County | 11 | |
| Sevier County | 7 | |
| Carbon County | 3 | |
| Millard County | 9 | |
| Juab County | 7 | |
| Emery County | 4 |
Common questions about Sanpete County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Sanpete County?
Avalanche has the highest expected yearly losses in Sanpete County, about $4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.9 million.
How many federal disasters has Sanpete County had?
Sanpete County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Flooding in December 2023.
Is Sanpete County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 12th 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 Sanpete County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Sanpete 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 Sanpete County had?
NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Sanpete County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on September 8, 2002 near Manti. The weather service has also logged 5 hail reports and 13 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.