Washington County, Utah
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- 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.
- Go indoors when you hear thunder.
- Use surge protectors for electronics.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 99.8 | $68M | ||
| Inland flooding | 93.4 | $66M | ||
| Lightning | 99.2 | $6M | ||
| Heat wave | 90.8 | $4M | ||
| Earthquake | 81.1 | $2M | ||
| Avalanche | 86.7 | $1M | ||
| Landslide | 98.6 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 13.4 | $127K | ||
| Ice storm | 52.2 | $109K | ||
| Drought | 38.8 | $69K | ||
| Winter weather | 47.3 | $68K | ||
| Tornado | 6.0 | $31K | ||
| Cold wave | 5.0 | $18K | ||
| Hail | 5.6 | $17K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 65.5 | $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
Most recent
Show all 12
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 1986 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 31, 1992 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 24, 2011 | EF0 | Hurricane Arpt | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 8, 2017 | EFU | Hurricane Arpt | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 19, 2010 | Flood | Goldstrike | $20M |
| Sep 11, 2012 | Flash Flood | Santa Clara | $8M |
| Aug 23, 2020 | Flash Flood | St George | $5M |
| Nov 21, 1996 | Flash Flood | St George Muni | $5M |
| Jan 3, 1997 | Flash Flood | St George | $5M |
| Aug 1, 2007 | Flash Flood | Virgin | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mohave County, AZ | 13 | |
| Iron County | 5 | |
| Kane County | 6 | |
| Lincoln County, NV | 6 |
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.