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Natural hazard risk in Washington County, Utah

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

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Moderate (score 92.8 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$147.7 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1977
12[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$1.2 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
4[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index rates overall natural hazard risk in Washington County, Utah as Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores within the county are wildfire, 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 at $147.7 million a year[1]. Sorting FEMA's values, the largest parts come from wildfire at $67.6 million a year and inland flooding at $65.6 million a year, followed by lightning at $5.7 million a year[7]. Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of average yearly loss. It is not money anyone paid, and it does not predict next year's damage[8]. FEMA rates social vulnerability as Relatively Low, which describes how susceptible social groups are to harm from natural hazards[9]. FEMA rates community resilience as Relatively Moderate, which describes a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards[10].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
WildfireRelatively High$67.6 million[11]
LightningVery High$5.7 million[12]
LandslideRelatively High$1.2 million[13]
Inland FloodingRelatively High$65.6 million[14]
Heat WaveRelatively Moderate$3.7 million[15]
AvalancheRelatively High$1.4 million[16]
EarthquakeRelatively Low$2.1 million[17]
Volcanic ActivityVery Low$74[18]
Ice StormRelatively Low$109,000[19]
Winter WeatherRelatively Low$68,000[20]
DroughtRelatively Low$69,000[21]
Strong WindVery Low$127,000[22]
TornadoVery Low$31,000[23]
HailVery Low$17,000[24]
Cold WaveVery Low$18,000[25]

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

Social vulnerability and community resilience

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

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively Low20.7[9]
Community resilienceRelatively Moderate45.1[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively High compared with other US counties[14]. NFIP data from OpenFEMA shows 82 contracts for 574 residential structures inside the mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, so 14.3% of homes inside the SFHA are insured[27]. OpenFEMA lists 64 NFIP claims for losses from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $1.2 million in total[3]. County ratings do not tell you the flood zone of an address. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official place to look one up[28].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[14] Relatively High, $65.6 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[27] 250 of 73,265 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[27] 574, of which 82 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 64 filed, $1.2 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 12 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Washington County since 1977[2]. By incident type these are fire 6, flood 3, coastal storm 1, severe storm 1 and drought 1[2]. The most recent is the Forsyth Fire, declared 2025-06-20[29]. NOAA's tornado database records 4 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024, and the strongest were rated F1[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Washington County, since 1977
Incident type Declarations
Fire[2] 6
Flood[2] 3
Coastal Storm[2] 1
Severe Storm[2] 1
Drought[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
FM-5591-UT[29] Forsyth Fire 2025-06-20
FM-5321-UT[29] Veyo West Fire 2020-07-13
FM-5130-UT[29] Saddle Fire 2016-06-21
DR-4088-UT[29] Severe Storm And Flooding 2012-11-03
DR-1955-UT[29] Severe Winter Storm And Flooding 2011-02-11

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.

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

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

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

Questions people ask

Is Washington County, Utah at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively High compared with other US counties[14]. FEMA's Expected Annual Loss for inland flooding is $65.6 million a year[14].
Does Washington County, Utah have wildfire risk?
FEMA rates wildfire risk Relatively High, with a score of 99.8 out of 100 compared with other US counties[11]. Wildfire has the highest hazard score within the county[6].
Does Washington County, Utah get tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 4 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Very Low compared with other US counties[23].
How many disasters have been declared in Washington County, Utah?
OpenFEMA lists 12 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include the county since 1977[2].
How can I check the flood zone for an address in Washington 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 Washington County is $147.7 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively Moderate, score 94.0). Of this, buildings account for $108.2 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 12 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Washington County since 1977 (4 major disaster, 8 emergency or fire management). By incident type: fire 6, flood 3, coastal storm 1, severe storm 1, drought 1. Biological (such as COVID-19) and other... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 64 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Washington County, 36 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $1.2 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid).... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 4 recorded tornadoes touched Washington County. The strongest were rated F1 (most recent of them on 1986-05-30). 0 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2017-07-08. 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 Washington County is Relatively Moderate, with a Risk Index score of 92.8 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 Washington County are wildfire (99.8, Relatively High), lightning (99.2, Very High), landslide (98.6, Relatively High). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published scores;... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Washington County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are wildfire ($67.6 million a year), inland flooding ($65.6 million a year), lightning ($5.7 million a year), out of $147.7 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 Washington County is Relatively Low (score 20.7). 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 Washington County is Relatively Moderate (score 45.1). 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), wildfire in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 99.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $67.6 million a year (rating Relatively High). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0173 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Washington County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 99.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $5.7 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 41.36 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 Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 98.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.2 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 93.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $65.6 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 6.68 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of... FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 90.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.7 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 2.54 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record... FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), avalanche in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 86.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.4 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.33 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 28 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 81.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.1 million a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0101 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), volcanic activity in Washington County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 65.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $74 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 52.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $109,000 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
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 47.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $68,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 16.96 events 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), drought in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 38.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $69,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 57.61 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Washington County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 13.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $127,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.18 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), tornado in Washington County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 6.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $31,000 a year (rating Very 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), hail in Washington County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 5.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $17,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.09 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Washington County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 4.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $18,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.03 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  26. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Washington County: coastal flooding, 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): 250 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Washington County, out of 73,265 residential structures, a penetration rate of 0.3%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 574 residential structures and 82 contracts, a... 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.