Iron County, Utah Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · UT
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 61th
Iron County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 61.4, 61th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $31M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Iron County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 61.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 61st national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at High risk — $15M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at High risk — $958K in expected annual loss and about 20.18 events per year; and landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $86K in expected annual loss and about 1.90 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $31M in expected annual loss for a population of 57K.
Beyond physical exposure, Iron County has a very low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
History supports the rating: Iron County has received 7 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 2 for flood events and 2 for biological events. The most recent was Flooding (flood), declared in December 2023.
Among 29 Utah counties, Iron County ranks #7 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | High | 0.01 / yr | $15M |
| Winter Weather | High | 20.18 / yr | $958K |
| Landslide | Medium | 1.90 / yr | $86K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.01 / yr | $4M |
| Lightning | High | 41.52 / yr | $1M |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $212 |
| Drought | Medium | 75.97 / yr | $560K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $526 |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.61 / yr | $8M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 1.28 / yr | $388K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $35K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.16 / yr | $153K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $76K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $18K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $7K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Iron County has received 7 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Flooding in December 2023. Most frequent causes: Flood (2), Biological (2), Fire (1).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| December 2023 | Flood | Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| June 2017 | Fire | Brian Head Fire |
| September 2005 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| August 2005 | Flood | Flooding and Landslides |
| January 1977 | Drought | Drought |
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Iron County?
Iron County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 61.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 61th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Iron County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (High, $15M EAL), Winter Weather (High, $958K EAL), Landslide (Medium, $86K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Iron County compare to other Utah counties?
Iron County ranks #7 of 29 Utah counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Iron County had?
FEMA records 7 federal disaster declarations for Iron County since 1977, most often 2 for flood events and 2 for biological events. The most recent was Flooding, declared in December 2023.
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. Iron County's $31M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.