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Wasatch County, Utah

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

Very Low overall risk
14th of 29highest risk in Utah
$17Mexpected losses a year
9federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Wasatch County, Utah has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 66% of US counties. It ranks 14th of 29 counties in Utah. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and avalanches. FEMA estimates about $17 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $480 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in December 2023 (flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (101 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $40,000 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 Wasatch County

$5.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 30 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
$4.4 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.
$3.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
  • Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low32.3
$6M
WildfireModerate94.2
$4M
AvalancheHigh92.5
$3M
LightningModerate69.8
$769K
Winter weatherHigh92.3
$751K
EarthquakeVery Low59.0
$667K
Strong windLow28.5
$429K
LandslideModerate95.6
$240K
TornadoVery Low11.8
$139K
Heat waveVery Low17.1
$70K
Cold waveVery Low6.9
$59K
HailVery Low5.4
$22K
DroughtVery Low24.5
$17K
Ice stormVery Low10.2
$8K
Volcanic activityVery Low38.4
$8

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 Wasatch County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood6
Drought1
Coastal Storm1
Fire1

Most recent

Dec 23, 2023FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 2018Dollar Ridge FireFire management
Aug 8, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 1, 2005Flooding and LandslidesMajor disaster
Mar 13, 1986Heavy Rains, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor 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 1983

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 52 storm reports in Wasatch County since 1983, with 2 deaths and 1 injury and about $83,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF0 tornado on May 28, 2018 near Wallsburg.

1tornadoes
11hail reports, largest 1.5 inches
35damaging thunderstorm winds
3floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 28, 2018EF0Wallsburg0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 25, 2002Thunderstorm WindHeber City$40K
Aug 1, 2004LightningHeber City$15K
Aug 12, 2024FloodDaniel$15K
Jul 3, 2023Thunderstorm WindMidway$5K
Jun 1, 2002Thunderstorm WindHeber City$3K
Mar 27, 2001Thunderstorm WindHeber City$1K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 24, 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 Wasatch County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (101 policies)
40.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$39,547paid on 12 flood claims since 1978
2023costliest year, with $13,158 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 Wasatch County

$787,300median home value (Utah $489,400, US $332,700)
2005median year homes were built (Utah 1992, US 1980)
18%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.7%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; 16,228 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
Utah CountyHigh11
Summit CountyLow8
Duchesne CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Wasatch County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Wasatch County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Wasatch County, about $5.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $4.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Wasatch County had?

Wasatch County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Flooding in December 2023.

Is Wasatch County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 14th 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 Wasatch County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Wasatch 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 Wasatch County had?

NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Wasatch County since 1950. The strongest was an EF0 tornado on May 28, 2018 near Wallsburg. The weather service has also logged 11 hail reports and 3 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.