riskbycounty
FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Rich County Disaster Risk

Rich County, Utah

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

1th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#29

of 29 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

3th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 3% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 76% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 3% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 37% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Rich County, Utah

Rich County's disaster risk stays very low

With a composite risk score of 0.83, Rich County sits far below the national average and ranks among America's safest counties for natural disasters. This very low rating reflects minimal exposure to most major hazard types across the region.

Utah's second-safest county

Rich County's score of 0.83 is dramatically lower than Utah's state average of 36.19, making it one of the state's most resilient counties. Only one Utah county outperforms Rich in overall disaster safety.

Safer than nearby mountain counties

Rich County's risk profile is significantly lower than neighboring Summit County (60.08) and Tooele County (48.89). This advantage stems from lower exposure to flooding, tornadoes, and earthquakes across the region.

Wildfire remains the primary concern

Wildfire risk at 75.89 is Rich County's highest hazard exposure, though still manageable with standard precautions. Earthquake risk (36.77) and flood risk (3.02) pose minimal threats to most residents.

Standard homeowners insurance protects you

Given Rich County's very low overall risk, standard homeowners insurance provides adequate protection for most properties. Consider adding wildfire coverage or a separate policy if your home is in a forested area or near wildland-urban interfaces.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Rich County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    WildfirePrepare
    76th percentile
  2. #2
    EarthquakePrepare
    37th percentile
  3. #3
    FloodPrepare
    3th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Rich County

Risk Verdict

Rich County carries a low natural disaster risk burden, scoring at the 1th percentile under the FEMA National Risk Index. Even at the 1th percentile, Rich County's composite score reflects real hazard exposure categories — knowing which ones apply locally enables targeted, efficient household preparedness.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is Rich County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 76th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Earthquake ranks second at the 37th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include flood (3th percentile), tornado (3th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Wildfire ranks as Rich County's primary hazard at the 76th percentile nationally. For Rich 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. The county's earthquake exposure at the 37th percentile nationally complements the wildfire risk — saturating rain after burn scarring often triggers secondary flood and debris flow events. Rich 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

Compared to the Utah county average, Rich County's composite score runs 35.4 points lower — a gap that reflects the county's relatively modest hazard profile within its state context.

Is your household prepared for Rich County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Rich County, UT?
Rich County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 1th 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 Rich County?
Rich County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (76th percentile), earthquake (37th percentile), flooding (3th percentile), tornado (3th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 76th 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 Rich County risk compare to the Utah average?
Rich County's composite risk percentile is 1th, compared to the Utah state average of 36th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Rich County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Utah.
Is Rich County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Rich County's wildfire risk is at the 76th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Rich County is at the 3th 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.
Is Rich County a safe place to live?
Rich County's composite risk score of 1th percentile is below the Utah state average of 36th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is wildfire at the 76th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Piute County

Utah

+0.1

Very Low

1th percentile

Wayne County

Utah

+1.0

Very Low

2th percentile

Morgan County

Utah

+2.6

Very Low

3th percentile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, 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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