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Sevier County, Utah

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

Very Low overall risk
16th of 29highest risk in Utah
$10Mexpected losses a year
7federal declarations
1 in 100homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Sevier County, Utah has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 77% of US counties. It ranks 16th of 29 counties in Utah. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and avalanches. FEMA estimates about $10 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $469 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2025 (Monroe Canyon Fire). About 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (76 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $36,000 on 15 claims here.

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

Top risks in Sevier County

$4.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 60 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.

Avalanche

Moderate
$690,952 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 years.
  • Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
  • Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeLow87.0
$4M
Inland floodingVery Low22.1
$3M
AvalancheModerate82.0
$691K
LightningModerate71.1
$657K
WildfireLow78.6
$452K
DroughtLow53.1
$229K
Winter weatherModerate69.9
$164K
Heat waveVery Low27.8
$152K
Strong windVery Low7.3
$66K
TornadoVery Low5.2
$28K
LandslideLow79.8
$20K
Ice stormVery Low9.0
$6K
HailVery Low1.4
$2K
Volcanic activityVery Low43.0
$10
Cold waveVery Low2.3
$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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Sevier County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood4
Drought1
Coastal Storm1
Fire1

Most recent

Jul 16, 2025Monroe Canyon FireFire management
Aug 8, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 1, 2005Flooding and LandslidesMajor disaster
Aug 17, 1984Severe Storms, Mudslides, Landslides & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 30, 1983Severe Storms, Landslides & FloodingMajor disaster
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 65 storm reports in Sevier County since 1957, with 1 death and 3 injuries and about $1.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on April 19, 1970.

2tornadoes
8hail reports, largest 1.25 inches
32damaging thunderstorm winds
19floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 19, 1970F1–1 / 0
Aug 7, 1957n/a–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 14, 2018Flash FloodRichfield$1M
Jun 1, 2011FloodMonroe$150K
May 23, 2011FloodSalina Gunnison Arpt$100K
Jul 15, 1997WildfireMonroe$60K
Aug 7, 1957Tornado–$25K
Aug 26, 1996Flash FloodFreemont Junction$20K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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 Sevier County

Check your address flood zone ›
1%of homes have federal flood insurance (76 policies)
23%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$35,504paid on 15 flood claims since 1978
1983costliest year, with $32,526 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 Sevier County

$311,200median home value (Utah $489,400, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Utah 1992, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.3%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; 8,831 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
Sanpete CountyVery Low8
Millard CountyVery Low9
Emery CountyVery Low4
Beaver CountyVery Low7
Wayne CountyVery Low2
Piute CountyVery Low7

Common questions about Sevier County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Sevier County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Sevier County, about $4.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $3.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Sevier County had?

Sevier County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Monroe Canyon Fire in July 2025.

Is Sevier County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 16th 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 Sevier County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 100 homes in Sevier 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 Sevier County had?

NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Sevier County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on April 19, 1970. The weather service has also logged 8 hail reports and 19 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.