Salt Lake County
Utah — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 99th
Salt Lake County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 98.6, 99th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and avalanche exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $622M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | High | 0.02 / yr | $488M |
| Avalanche | Very High | 1.53 / yr | $12M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 28.20 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | High | 0.01 / yr | $25M |
| Lightning | High | 39.39 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 2.16 / yr | $6M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.14 / yr | $79M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.87 / yr | $53K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $281 |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.05 / yr | $4M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.29 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Low | 0.27 / yr | $754K |
| Drought | Low | 48.75 / yr | $144K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.06 / yr | $696K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $12K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Salt Lake County?
Salt Lake County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 98.6 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 99th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Salt Lake County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (High, $488M EAL), Avalanche (Very High, $12M EAL), Winter Weather (Very High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Salt Lake County compare to other Utah counties?
Salt Lake County ranks #1 of 29 Utah counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
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. Salt Lake County's $622M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.