Santa Cruz County Disaster Risk
Santa Cruz County, Arizona
FEMA Risk Rating
Relatively Moderate
National Percentile
88th
of 3,144 counties
State Rank
#10
of 15 (1 = highest risk)
Flood Risk
87th
percentile
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Flood
River, coastal, and surface flooding risk
Moderate
Higher than 87% of US counties
Wildfire
Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk
Relatively High
Higher than 98% of US counties
Tornado
Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk
Very Low
Higher than 9% of US counties
Earthquake
Seismic activity and ground shaking risk
Relatively Low
Higher than 43% of US counties
Hurricane
Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk
Very Low
Higher than 17% of US counties
Risk Overview
About Natural Disaster Risk in Santa Cruz County, Arizona
Santa Cruz moderately exceeds baseline
Santa Cruz County scores 88.33 on composite risk, placing it in the relatively moderate category above national averages. The score reflects meaningful wildfire and flood exposure balanced against lower earthquake and minimal tornado threat.
Mid-tier risk in Arizona
Santa Cruz ranks sixth among Arizona's 15 counties with a score of 88.33, slightly above the state average of 84.45. The county sits in Arizona's moderate-risk band, neither among the highest nor the lowest disaster-exposed areas.
Similar to Navajo, lower than Mohave
Santa Cruz's 88.33 closely mirrors Navajo County (88.07) and falls below higher-risk neighbors Mohave (94.75), Pinal (93.83), and Yavapai (93.73). The county represents a middle ground in Arizona's disaster-risk spectrum.
Wildfire and flood lead the hazards
Wildfire risk stands at 98.06 and flood risk at 87.40, making these Santa Cruz's primary concerns. Earthquake risk at 43.48 is moderate, while tornado risk (8.68) and hurricane risk (17.27) remain comparatively low.
Don't skip wildfire and flood coverage
Wildfire and flood damage are nearly always excluded from standard homeowners policies; Santa Cruz residents must purchase separate coverage. Even in a moderate-risk county, these specific protections are non-negotiable given the 98.06 wildfire score.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor
Preparedness Guide
What to Prepare for in Santa Cruz County
Top Hazards by Exposure
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)
Risk Advisory: Santa Cruz County
Risk Verdict
Santa Cruz County registers a moderately elevated natural disaster risk, ranking at the 88th percentile across all U.S. counties. High composite risk signals that multiple hazard types are elevated simultaneously; planning for more than one scenario is important in Santa Cruz County.
Hazard Breakdown
Wildfire risk is Santa Cruz County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 98th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Flood ranks second at the 87th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include earthquake (43th percentile), hurricane (17th percentile), tornado (9th percentile).
Preparedness Context
Wildfire ranks as Santa Cruz County's primary hazard at the 98th percentile nationally. For Santa Cruz County households in high-WUI areas, go-bag readiness — the ability to leave within 15 minutes — is more important than shelter-in-place planning for most residential properties. Alongside wildfire, flood at the 87th percentile nationally means a multi-season preparedness mindset — fire season and flood or storm season often require different household plans. Santa Cruz County county's local emergency management office publishes community-specific wildfire risk assessments and evacuation zone maps; households should review their zone assignment and sign up for zone-specific alerts.
Regional Context
At 3.9 points from the Arizona county mean, Santa Cruz County's overall disaster risk profile is close to typical for this state, with no dramatic deviation in either direction.
Is your household prepared for Santa Cruz County's hazards?
Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the natural disaster risk in Santa Cruz County, AZ?
What types of natural hazards affect Santa Cruz County?
How does Santa Cruz County risk compare to the Arizona average?
Is Santa Cruz County at risk for wildfire?
How is natural disaster risk measured?
Why is Santa Cruz County higher risk than average?
Data Source
Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.
Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.