riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Box Elder County Disaster Risk

Box Elder County, Utah

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

56th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#9

of 29 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

19th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 19% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively High

Higher than 95% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 13% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 93% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Box Elder County

Risk Verdict

Box Elder County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 56th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Box Elder County, scoring in the 95th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 93th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (19th), tornado (13th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Box Elder County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as earthquake also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Box Elder County is significantly riskier than the average county in Utah. Its composite risk score is 19.7 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Box Elder County, UT?
Box Elder County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 56th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Box Elder County?
Box Elder County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (95th percentile), earthquake (93th percentile), flooding (19th percentile), tornado (13th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 95th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Box Elder County risk compare to the Utah average?
Box Elder County's composite risk percentile is 56th, compared to the Utah state average of 36th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Box Elder County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Utah.
Is Box Elder County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Box Elder County's wildfire risk is at the 95th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Box Elder County is at the 19th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Why is Box Elder County higher risk than average?
Box Elder County's composite risk score of 56th percentile is above the Utah state average of 36th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (95th percentile), along with earthquake risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Summit County

Utah

+4.2

Relatively Low

60th percentile

Iron County

Utah

+5.5

Relatively Low

61th percentile

Tooele County

Utah

-7.0

Relatively Low

49th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

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.

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