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Washington County, Utah

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
3rd of 29highest risk in Utah
$148Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Washington County, Utah has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 93% of US counties. It ranks 3rd of 29 counties in Utah. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and lightning. FEMA estimates about $148 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $820 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2025 (Forsyth Fire). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (250 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.2 million on 64 claims here, including $445,000 for floods in 2021.

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

Top risks in Washington County

$67.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 60 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$65.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • 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.

Lightning

Very High
$5.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 41 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
WildfireHigh99.8
$68M
Inland floodingHigh93.4
$66M
LightningVery High99.2
$6M
Heat waveModerate90.8
$4M
EarthquakeLow81.1
$2M
AvalancheHigh86.7
$1M
LandslideHigh98.6
$1M
Strong windVery Low13.4
$127K
Ice stormLow52.2
$109K
DroughtLow38.8
$69K
Winter weatherLow47.3
$68K
TornadoVery Low6.0
$31K
Cold waveVery Low5.0
$18K
HailVery Low5.6
$17K
Volcanic activityVery Low65.5
$74

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 relatively 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 Washington County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire6
Flood3
Drought1
Severe Storm1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jun 20, 2025Forsyth FireFire management
Jul 13, 2020Veyo West FireFire management
Jun 21, 2016Saddle FireFire management
Nov 3, 2012Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 11, 2011Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2009Mill Flat FireFire management
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 27, 2005Blue Springs FireFire management
Feb 1, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2004Brookside FireFire management
Show all 12
Jan 31, 1989Dike Failure & Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 20, 1977DroughtEmergency

Utah also had 7 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 440 storm reports in Washington County since 1958, with 26 deaths and 26 injuries and about $51.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on May 30, 1986.

4tornadoes
26hail reports, largest 2 inches
84damaging thunderstorm winds
304floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 30, 1986F1–0 / 0
Aug 31, 1992F0–0 / 0
Aug 24, 2011EF0Hurricane Arpt0 / 0
Jul 8, 2017EFUHurricane Arpt0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Dec 19, 2010FloodGoldstrike$20M
Sep 11, 2012Flash FloodSanta Clara$8M
Aug 23, 2020Flash FloodSt George$5M
Nov 21, 1996Flash FloodSt George Muni$5M
Jan 3, 1997Flash FloodSt George$5M
Aug 1, 2007Flash FloodVirgin$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 29, 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 Washington County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (250 policies)
14.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.2 millionpaid on 64 flood claims since 1978
2021costliest year, with $444,824 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 Washington County

$510,700median home value (Utah $489,400, US $332,700)
2003median year homes were built (Utah 1992, US 1980)
11%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.4%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; 82,189 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
Mohave County, AZHigh13
Iron CountyLow5
Kane CountyVery Low6
Lincoln County, NVVery Low6

Cities in Washington County

Common questions about Washington County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Washington County?

Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Washington County, about $67.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $65.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Washington County had?

Washington County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Forsyth Fire in June 2025.

Is Washington County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 3rd 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 Washington County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Washington 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 Washington County had?

NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Washington County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on May 30, 1986. The weather service has also logged 26 hail reports and 304 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.