Piute County, Utah Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · UT
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 1th
Piute County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 0.9, 1th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $1M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Piute County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 0.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 1st national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Piute County's expected losses come from landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $88K in expected annual loss and about 0.93 events per year; winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Low risk — $95K in expected annual loss and about 28.25 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Very Low risk — $80K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $1M in expected annual loss for a population of 1K.
Beyond physical exposure, Piute County has a low 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). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Piute County has received 8 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 2 for fire events and 2 for biological events. The most recent was Monroe Canyon Fire (fire), declared in July 2025.
Among 29 Utah counties, Piute County ranks #28 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 0.93 / yr | $88K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 28.25 / yr | $95K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $80K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $274K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $484 |
| Drought | Low | 75.93 / yr | $36K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $1 |
| Lightning | Low | 45.42 / yr | $87K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $16K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.39 / yr | $576K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $865 |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $8K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $1K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $69 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Piute County has received 8 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Monroe Canyon Fire in July 2025. Most frequent causes: Fire (2), Biological (2), Flood (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| July 2025 | Fire | Monroe Canyon Fire |
| July 2024 | Fire | Silver King Fire |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| August 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
| September 2005 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| April 1983 | Flood | Severe Storms, Landslides & Flooding |
| January 1977 | Drought | Drought |
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Piute County?
Piute County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 0.9 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 1th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Piute County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $88K EAL), Winter Weather (Low, $95K EAL), Wildfire (Very Low, $80K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Piute County compare to other Utah counties?
Piute County ranks #28 of 29 Utah counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Piute County had?
FEMA records 8 federal disaster declarations for Piute County since 1977, most often 2 for fire events and 2 for biological events. The most recent was Monroe Canyon Fire, declared in July 2025.
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. Piute County's $1M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.