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Summit County, Utah

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

Relatively Low overall risk
8th of 29highest risk in Utah
$39Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Summit County, Utah has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 60% of US counties. It ranks 8th of 29 counties in Utah. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and avalanches. FEMA estimates about $39 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $911 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (Rocky Canyon Fire). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (183 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $152,000 on 46 claims here.

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

Top risks in Summit County

$11.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$10.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 225 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.

Avalanche

Very High
$10.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
  • Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow49.6
$12M
WildfireModerate96.5
$11M
AvalancheVery High98.1
$10M
LightningHigh91.3
$2M
Strong windModerate61.9
$1M
EarthquakeVery Low55.5
$670K
Winter weatherHigh87.0
$587K
TornadoVery Low13.6
$209K
LandslideModerate92.3
$141K
Cold waveVery Low8.2
$102K
Heat waveVery Low14.0
$57K
HailVery Low9.8
$55K
DroughtVery Low27.2
$31K
Ice stormVery Low13.7
$15K
Volcanic activityVery Low39.1
$10

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood3
Fire3
Drought1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Aug 9, 2026Rocky Canyon FireFire management
Aug 14, 2021Parleys Canyon FireFire management
Aug 13, 2013Rockport Five FireFire management
Aug 8, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
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 1973

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 56 storm reports in Summit County since 1973, with 6 deaths and 8 injuries and about $5.3 million in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.

0tornadoes
13hail reports, largest 1.5 inches
29damaging thunderstorm winds
8floods and flash floods

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 6, 2010FloodPeoa$5M
Jul 24, 1998Heavy RainKimball Jct$130K
Jun 11, 2016Thunderstorm WindFrancis$75K
Jul 1, 2011FloodPeoa$50K
Feb 9, 2014FloodCoalville$40K
Jun 24, 2011FloodPeoa$20K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 22, 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 Summit County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (183 policies)
8.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$152,413paid on 46 flood claims since 1978
2023costliest year, with $28,006 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 Summit County

$1.1 millionmedian home value (Utah $489,400, US $332,700)
1995median year homes were built (Utah 1992, US 1980)
21%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.5%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; 26,549 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
Salt Lake CountyHigh10
Sweetwater County, WYVery Low2
Wasatch CountyVery Low9
Uinta County, WYVery Low3
Duchesne CountyVery Low6
Morgan CountyVery Low8
Rich CountyVery Low3
Daggett CountyVery Low5

Common questions about Summit County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Summit County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Summit County, about $11.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $10.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Summit County had?

Summit County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Rocky Canyon Fire in August 2026.

Is Summit County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 8th 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 Summit County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Summit 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 Summit County had?

NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Summit County since 1950. The weather service has also logged 13 hail reports and 8 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.