Rich County, Utah Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · UT
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 1th
Rich County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 0.8, 1th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $2M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Rich County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 0.8 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 Rich County's expected losses come from landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $42K in expected annual loss and about 0.85 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $390K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and avalanche (fast-moving snow and debris sliding down steep mountain slopes) at Low risk — $11K in expected annual loss and about 0.03 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $2M in expected annual loss for a population of 3K.
Beyond physical exposure, Rich 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Rich County has received 5 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 2 for biological events and 1 for coastal storm events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in April 2020.
Among 29 Utah counties, Rich County ranks #29 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Low | 0.85 / yr | $42K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $390K |
| Avalanche | Low | 0.03 / yr | $11K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 44.00 / yr | $119K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $171K |
| Drought | Very Low | 82.03 / yr | $32K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 34.19 / yr | $33K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.56 / yr | $69K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.27 / yr | $42K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $696K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $9K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.19 / yr | $4K |
| Heat 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 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Rich County has received 5 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in April 2020. Most frequent causes: Biological (2), Coastal Storm (1), Flood (1).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 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 Rich County?
Rich County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 0.8 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 Rich County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Low, $42K EAL), Wildfire (Low, $390K EAL), Avalanche (Low, $11K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Rich County compare to other Utah counties?
Rich County ranks #29 of 29 Utah counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Rich County had?
FEMA records 5 federal disaster declarations for Rich County since 1977, most often 2 for biological events and 1 for coastal storm 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. Rich County's $2M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.