Utah County, Utah
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Utah County, Utah has a relatively high overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 95% of US counties. It ranks 2nd of 29 counties in Utah. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $288 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $437 per resident. Since 1983 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (Iron Fire). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (514 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $505,000 on 105 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Utah 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | 98.8 | $163M | ||
| Inland flooding | 90.5 | $64M | ||
| Wildfire | 98.9 | $35M | ||
| Heat wave | 94.3 | $8M | ||
| Lightning | 99.1 | $7M | ||
| Avalanche | 93.0 | $3M | ||
| Strong wind | 87.9 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 52.6 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 42.3 | $1M | ||
| Winter weather | 93.8 | $896K | ||
| Drought | 67.7 | $705K | ||
| Hail | 31.7 | $200K | ||
| Ice storm | 50.8 | $137K | ||
| Landslide | 76.0 | $16K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 70.7 | $157 |
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 Utah County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 11
Utah also had 7 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1959
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 306 storm reports in Utah County since 1959, with 4 deaths and 32 injuries and about $66.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on July 9, 1965.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 9, 1965 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 2, 1970 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 13, 1982 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 7, 2013 | EF0 | American Fork | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 9, 2003 | F0 | Payson | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Provo | $50M |
| Aug 1, 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $4M |
| Sep 12, 2002 | Flash Flood | Santaquin | $3M |
| Aug 1, 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Provo Muni Arpt | $3M |
| Sep 1, 2012 | Flash Flood | Lehi | $1M |
| Sep 7, 2013 | Flash Flood | Goshen | $900K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 9, 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 Utah 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 Utah 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; 211,066 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake County | 10 | |
| Tooele County | 9 | |
| Wasatch County | 9 | |
| Sanpete County | 8 | |
| Carbon County | 3 | |
| Duchesne County | 6 | |
| Juab County | 7 |
Common questions about Utah County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Utah County?
Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Utah County, about $163 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $63.9 million.
How many federal disasters has Utah County had?
Utah County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1983, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Iron Fire in June 2026.
Is Utah County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively High, 2nd 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 Utah County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Utah 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 Utah County had?
NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Utah County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on July 9, 1965. The weather service has also logged 53 hail reports and 36 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.