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Natural hazard risk in Yuma County, Arizona

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Moderate (score 92.5 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$91.5 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1983
4[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$1.0 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
12[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) gives Yuma County an overall Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, with a score of 92.5 out of 100[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores in the county are earthquake, heat wave and inland flooding[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Yuma County at $91.5 million a year[1]. FEMA's sorted loss values show earthquake, then inland flooding, then heat wave as the largest parts of that total[7]. FEMA rates earthquake risk Relatively High compared with other US counties[8]. FEMA rates Social Vulnerability Relatively High, which describes how susceptible social groups are to harm from natural hazards[9]. FEMA rates Community Resilience Very Low, which describes a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards[10]. FEMA says the index does not predict next year's losses[11].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
EarthquakeRelatively High$52.0 million[8]
Heat WaveRelatively High$6.4 million[12]
Inland FloodingRelatively Moderate$31.6 million[13]
DroughtRelatively Moderate$513,000[14]
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$562,000[15]
Volcanic ActivityVery Low$23[16]
WildfireVery Low$58,000[17]
LandslideVery Low$762[18]
LightningRelatively Low$136,000[19]
HurricaneVery Low$5,574[20]
HailVery Low$43,000[21]
TornadoVery Low$91,000[22]
Winter WeatherVery Low$0[23]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: avalanche, coastal flooding, ice storm, tsunami[24].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively High68.5[9]
Community resilienceVery Low1.1[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding Relatively Moderate in Yuma County, with an Expected Annual Loss of $31.6 million a year[13]. OpenFEMA lists 372 residential flood insurance contracts in force as of 2026-08-03, a penetration rate of 0.5%[25]. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, 16.5% of homes are insured[25]. OpenFEMA records 123 NFIP claims for losses in the county from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $1.0 million in total[3]. To check a specific address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[26].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[13] Relatively Moderate, $31.6 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[25] 372 of 79,151 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[25] 1,892, of which 312 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 123 filed, $1.0 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[26]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 4 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Yuma County since 1983[2]. The most recent was declared on 2005-09-12[27]. NOAA's tornado database records 12 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024, and none rated F3 or EF3 or stronger[4]. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2018-10-13[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Yuma County, since 1983
Incident type Declarations
Flood[2] 2
Severe Storm[2] 1
Hurricane[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
EM-3241-AZ[27] Hurricane Katrina Evacuation 2005-09-12
DR-977-AZ[27] Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding 1993-01-19
DR-730-AZ[27] Heavy Rain & High Winds 1985-01-15
DR-686-AZ[27] Flooding 1983-07-01

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Earthquakes

Before

  • Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with your family and coworkers.
  • Sign up for earthquake alerts that can warn you before shaking starts.
  • Make a plan with an out-of-state contact and a place to meet if you get separated.
  • Anchor heavy items such as bookcases, refrigerators and water heaters, and keep heavy things on low shelves.
  • Consider earthquake insurance. Standard homeowners policies do not cover earthquake damage.

During

  • Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck, and hold on until the shaking stops.
  • Indoors, stay where you are and avoid doorways. Outdoors, move to an open area away from buildings and power lines.
  • If you are driving, pull over, stop and set the parking brake.

Source: Ready.gov, earthquakes

Extreme heat

Before

  • Learn the signs of heat illness and how to respond.
  • Do not rely on a fan as your main way to stay cool. Fans do not lower body temperature.
  • Find cool public places, such as libraries or malls, or ask your local health department.
  • Keep heat out with window shades, weather stripping and insulation.
  • If you cannot afford cooling costs, contact LIHEAP for help.

During

  • Never leave a person or an animal in a parked car in warm weather.
  • If your home has no air conditioning, go to a cooling center.
  • Wear light, loose clothing, drink plenty of fluids and avoid hard outdoor work in the middle of the day.

Source: Ready.gov, extreme heat

Floods

Before

  • Check your flood risk with FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and remember that floods do not follow map lines.
  • Sign up for your community's warning system. NOAA Weather Radio also broadcasts alerts.
  • Buy flood insurance through the NFIP well before a disaster. Homeowners policies do not cover flooding, and a new policy typically takes up to 30 days to go into effect.
  • Make a household plan with evacuation routes, shelter locations and what to do in a flash flood.
  • Keep important documents in a waterproof container and make password-protected digital copies.

During

  • If you are told to evacuate, leave right away and never drive around barricades.
  • Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Six inches of moving water can knock you down.
  • If you are trapped in a building, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, floods

Questions people ask

Is Yuma County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding Relatively Moderate for Yuma County compared with other US counties[13]. OpenFEMA records 123 NFIP claims for losses in the county from 1978 to 2026[3].
Does Yuma County get tornadoes?
FEMA rates tornado risk Very Low compared with other US counties[22]. NOAA's tornado database records 12 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4].
Is Yuma County at risk of earthquakes?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Relatively High compared with other US counties, with an Expected Annual Loss of $52.0 million a year[8].
How many disasters have been declared in Yuma County?
OpenFEMA lists 4 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Yuma County since 1983[2].
How do I check my flood zone in Yuma County?
Look up the address in FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[26].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Yuma County is $91.5 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively Moderate, score 90.0). Of this, buildings account for $62.6 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $27.5... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 4 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Yuma County since 1983 (3 major disaster, 1 emergency or fire management). By incident type: flood 2, severe storm 1, hurricane 1. Biological (such as COVID-19) and other non-natural declarations are not... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 123 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Yuma County, 76 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $1.0 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid). Years... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 12 recorded tornadoes touched Yuma County. The strongest were rated F2 (most recent of them on 1959-08-17). 0 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2018-10-13. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Yuma County is Relatively Moderate, with a Risk Index score of 92.5 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Yuma County are earthquake (98.4, Relatively High), heat wave (96.6, Relatively High), inland flooding (90.9, Relatively Moderate). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Yuma County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are earthquake ($52.0 million a year), inland flooding ($31.6 million a year), heat wave ($6.4 million a year), out of $91.5 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  8. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Yuma County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 98.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $52.0 million a year (rating Relatively High). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0902 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Yuma County is Relatively High (score 68.5). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Yuma County is Very Low (score 1.1). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Yuma County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 96.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $6.4 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 15.77 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Yuma County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 90.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $31.6 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 1.32 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record... FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Yuma County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 74.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $513,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 40.07 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Yuma County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 61.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $562,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.33 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), volcanic activity in Yuma County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 59.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $23 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Yuma County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 59.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $58,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0005 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Yuma County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 45.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $762 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Yuma County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 43.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $136,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 19.69 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Yuma County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 22.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $5,574 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.02 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172 years for the Atlantic Basin and... FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Yuma County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 16.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $43,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.04 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Yuma County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 14.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $91,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.07 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Yuma County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 1.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $0 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Yuma County: avalanche, coastal flooding, ice storm, tsunami. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically possible... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  25. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 372 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Yuma County, out of 79,151 residential structures, a penetration rate of 0.5%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 1,892 residential structures and 312 contracts, a rate... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  26. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  27. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.