Mohave County, Arizona Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AZ
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 95th
Mohave County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 94.8, 95th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $105M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Mohave County at high composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 94.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 95th national percentile and in the upper tier of natural-disaster risk nationally. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Mohave County's expected losses come from wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at High risk — $14M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at High risk — $12M in expected annual loss and about 10.35 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Very High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 36.89 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $105M in expected annual loss for a population of 213K.
Beyond physical exposure, Mohave County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Mohave County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 4 for severe storm events and 4 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in April 2020.
Among 15 Arizona counties, Mohave County ranks #3 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | High | 0.01 / yr | $14M |
| Heat Wave | High | 10.35 / yr | $12M |
| Lightning | Very High | 36.89 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 10.43 / yr | $74M |
| Winter Weather | High | 5.43 / yr | $283K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.01 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.26 / yr | $632K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $129K |
| Avalanche | Low | 0.01 / yr | $2K |
| Landslide | Low | 6.99 / yr | $3K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $22 |
| Hail | Low | 0.12 / yr | $171K |
| Drought | Very Low | 89.93 / yr | $3K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.27 / yr | $6K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Mohave County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in April 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (4), Flood (4), Fire (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| August 2015 | Fire | Willow Fire |
| July 2013 | Fire | Dean Peak Fire |
| March 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 2005 | Fire | Az-Hulet Fire-06-11-2005 |
| April 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| February 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| January 1985 | Severe Storm | Heavy Rain & High Winds |
Showing the 10 most recent of 15 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Mohave County?
Mohave County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 94.8 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 95th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Mohave County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (High, $14M EAL), Heat Wave (High, $12M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Mohave County compare to other Arizona counties?
Mohave County ranks #3 of 15 Arizona counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Mohave County had?
FEMA records 15 federal disaster declarations for Mohave County since 1977, most often 4 for severe storm events and 4 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic, declared in April 2020.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Mohave County's $105M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.