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Natural hazard risk in Davis County, Utah

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

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Moderate (score 87.8 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$127.7 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1977
9[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$1.1 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
12[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index rates overall natural hazard risk in Davis County, Utah as Relatively Moderate, with a score of 87.8 out of 100[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores within the county are earthquake, lightning and landslide[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 Davis County at $127.7 million a year[1]. FEMA's sorted loss values put earthquake first at $89.3 million a year, then inland flooding at $16.3 million a year and lightning at $4.7 million a year[7]. Expected Annual Loss is a FEMA estimate of average yearly loss, and FEMA says the index does not predict next year's damage[8]. FEMA rates Social Vulnerability Very Low (score 10.6)[9]. FEMA rates Community Resilience Very High (score 97.9)[10]. These ratings compare Davis County with all other US counties[8].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
EarthquakeRelatively Moderate$89.3 million[11]
LightningVery High$4.7 million[12]
LandslideRelatively Moderate$217,000[13]
WildfireRelatively Moderate$2.7 million[14]
AvalancheRelatively High$3.1 million[15]
Winter WeatherRelatively High$636,000[16]
Strong WindRelatively High$3.2 million[17]
Heat WaveRelatively Moderate$4.1 million[18]
Inland FloodingRelatively Low$16.3 million[19]
Cold WaveRelatively Low$1.8 million[20]
Volcanic ActivityVery Low$17[21]
DroughtRelatively Low$134,000[22]
TornadoRelatively Low$1.2 million[23]
Ice StormRelatively Low$73,000[24]
HailVery Low$113,000[25]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: hurricane, tsunami[26].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

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

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityVery Low10.6[9]
Community resilienceVery High97.9[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk in Davis County Relatively Low compared with other US counties, with an Expected Annual Loss rating of Relatively Moderate[19]. OpenFEMA lists 329 residential flood insurance contracts in force as of 2026-08-03, a penetration rate of 0.3%[27]. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, 11.4% of homes are insured[27]. OpenFEMA records 185 NFIP claims for losses from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $1.1 million in total[3]. For the flood zone of a specific address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[28].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[19] Relatively Low, $16.3 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[27] 329 of 99,140 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[27] 405, of which 46 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 185 filed, $1.1 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[28]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 9 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Davis County since 1977[2]. The most recent was DR-4578-UT for straight-line winds, declared 2021-01-12[29]. NOAA's tornado database records 12 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024, and none were rated F3 or EF3 or stronger[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Davis County, since 1977
Incident type Declarations
Fire[2] 2
Flood[2] 2
Severe Storm[2] 2
Earthquake[2] 1
Coastal Storm[2] 1
Drought[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
DR-4578-UT[29] Straight-Line Winds 2021-01-12
DR-4548-UT[29] Earthquake And Aftershocks 2020-07-09
FM-5292-UT[29] Gun Range Fire 2019-08-30
FM-5206-UT[29] Uintah Fire 2017-09-05
DR-4053-UT[29] Severe Storm 2012-02-01

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

Wildfires

Before

  • Sign up for community alerts and watch for air quality alerts.
  • Make sure everyone knows the evacuation plan, including for school, work and other places you go often.
  • Keep a fire-resistant zone of at least 30 feet around your home, clear of leaves and debris.
  • Use fire-resistant building materials and keep a hose long enough to reach every part of your property.
  • Pick a room you can seal off from outside air and keep a portable air cleaner ready.

During

  • Leave right away when authorities tell you to evacuate.
  • If you are trapped, call 9-1-1 with your location and turn on lights to help rescuers find you.
  • If you are not ordered to leave but there is smoke, stay in a safe indoor place or go to a community building with less smoke.

Source: Ready.gov, wildfires

Winter storms and cold

Before

  • Insulate your home and learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
  • Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup.
  • Keep several days of supplies in case the power goes out, including medication and pet needs.
  • Put an emergency kit in your car with jumper cables, sand, blankets, water and snacks, and keep the tank full.

During

  • Under a winter storm warning, find shelter right away.
  • Stay off the roads if you can. If you are stuck in your car, stay inside it.
  • Run generators and grills only outdoors, away from windows, and never heat your home with an oven or stove.

Source: Ready.gov, winter storms and cold

Questions people ask

Is Davis County, Utah at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties[19]. NFIP paid $1.1 million on claims for losses from 1978 to 2026[3].
Is Davis County at risk of earthquakes?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties, with the largest Expected Annual Loss of any hazard at $89.3 million a year[11][7].
Does Davis County have tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 12 tornadoes touching Davis County from 1950 to 2024[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties[23].
Is Davis County at risk of hurricanes?
FEMA rates hurricane and tsunami Not Applicable for Davis County[26].
How do I check the flood zone of an address in Davis County?
Look up the address in FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[28].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Davis County is $127.7 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively Moderate, score 92.8). Of this, buildings account for $64.3 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $63.3... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 9 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Davis County since 1977 (5 major disaster, 4 emergency or fire management). By incident type: fire 2, flood 2, severe storm 2, earthquake 1, coastal storm 1, drought 1. Biological (such as COVID-19) and... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 185 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Davis County, 85 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $1.1 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 Davis County. The strongest were rated F2 (most recent of them on 1963-06-03). 0 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2021-09-02. 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 Davis County is Relatively Moderate, with a Risk Index score of 87.8 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 Davis County are earthquake (97.9, Relatively Moderate), lightning (97.1, Very High), landslide (94.6, Relatively Moderate). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published scores;... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Davis County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are earthquake ($89.3 million a year), inland flooding ($16.3 million a year), lightning ($4.7 million a year), out of $127.7 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  8. 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
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Davis County is Very Low (score 10.6). 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 Davis County is Very High (score 97.9). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Davis County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 97.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $89.3 million a year (rating Relatively High). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0151 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Davis County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 97.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $4.7 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 33.73 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Davis County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 94.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $217,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Davis County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 90.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.7 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0026 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), avalanche in Davis County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 90.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.1 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.33 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 28 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Davis County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 87.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $636,000 a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 25.05 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Davis County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 86.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.2 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 1.19 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Davis County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 86.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $4.1 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 2.2 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Davis County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 59.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $16.3 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.39 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of... FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Davis County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 51.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.8 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.16 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), volcanic activity in Davis County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 45.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $17 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Davis County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 41.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $134,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 46.03 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Davis County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 34.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.2 million a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.04 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Davis County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 34.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $73,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.01 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Davis County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 17.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $113,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.28 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  26. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Davis County: hurricane, 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 there. FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  27. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 329 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Davis County, out of 99,140 residential structures, a penetration rate of 0.3%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 405 residential structures and 46 contracts, a rate of... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  28. 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
  29. 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.