Sevier County, Utah
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | 87.0 | $4M | ||
| Inland flooding | 22.1 | $3M | ||
| Avalanche | 82.0 | $691K | ||
| Lightning | 71.1 | $657K | ||
| Wildfire | 78.6 | $452K | ||
| Drought | 53.1 | $229K | ||
| Winter weather | 69.9 | $164K | ||
| Heat wave | 27.8 | $152K | ||
| Strong wind | 7.3 | $66K | ||
| Tornado | 5.2 | $28K | ||
| Landslide | 79.8 | $20K | ||
| Ice storm | 9.0 | $6K | ||
| Hail | 1.4 | $2K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 43.0 | $10 | ||
| Cold wave | 2.3 | $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
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 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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 1970 | F1 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Aug 7, 1957 | n/a | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 14, 2018 | Flash Flood | Richfield | $1M |
| Jun 1, 2011 | Flood | Monroe | $150K |
| May 23, 2011 | Flood | Salina Gunnison Arpt | $100K |
| Jul 15, 1997 | Wildfire | Monroe | $60K |
| Aug 7, 1957 | Tornado | – | $25K |
| Aug 26, 1996 | Flash Flood | Freemont 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sanpete County | 8 | |
| Millard County | 9 | |
| Emery County | 4 | |
| Beaver County | 7 | |
| Wayne County | 2 | |
| Piute County | 7 |
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.