Wayne County, Utah Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · UT
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 2th
Wayne County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 1.9, 2th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $2M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Wayne County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 1.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 2nd 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.
Risk here concentrates in landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $98K in expected annual loss and about 1.99 events per year; winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Medium risk — $145K in expected annual loss and about 11.81 events per year; and avalanche (fast-moving snow and debris sliding down steep mountain slopes) at Very Low risk — $1K 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 2K.
Beyond physical exposure, Wayne County has a medium 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: Wayne County has received 4 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, Wayne County ranks #27 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 1.99 / yr | $98K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 11.81 / yr | $145K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $1K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $54K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $230K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 1.88 / yr | $209K |
| Lightning | Low | 41.34 / yr | $145K |
| Drought | Low | 117.22 / yr | $26K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $1 |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 4.86 / yr | $903K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $2K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $7K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $10K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $4K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $2K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Wayne County has received 4 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in April 2020. Most frequent causes: Biological (2), Coastal Storm (1), Drought (1).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2005 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 1977 | Drought | Drought |
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Wayne County?
Wayne County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 1.9 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 2th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Wayne County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $98K EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $145K EAL), Avalanche (Very Low, $1K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Wayne County compare to other Utah counties?
Wayne County ranks #27 of 29 Utah counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Wayne County had?
FEMA records 4 federal disaster declarations for Wayne 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. Wayne County's $2M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.