riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

San Juan County Disaster Risk

San Juan County, Utah

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

27th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#15

of 29 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

24th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 24% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 82% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 5% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 56% of US counties

Risk Advisory: San Juan County

Risk Verdict

San Juan County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 27th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for San Juan County, scoring in the 82th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 56th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (24th), tornado (5th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, San Juan 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

San Juan County is notably safer than the average county in Utah. Its composite risk score is 9.4 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in San Juan County, UT?
San Juan County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 27th 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 San Juan County?
San Juan County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (82th percentile), earthquake (56th percentile), flooding (24th percentile), tornado (5th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 82th 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 San Juan County risk compare to the Utah average?
San Juan County's composite risk percentile is 27th, compared to the Utah state average of 36th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means San Juan County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Utah.
Is San Juan County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, San Juan County's wildfire risk is at the 82th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, San Juan County is at the 24th 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 San Juan County a safe place to live?
San Juan County's composite risk score of 27th 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 82th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Sevier County

Utah

-4.1

Very Low

23th percentile

Millard County

Utah

-4.6

Very Low

22th percentile

Wasatch County

Utah

+6.7

Very Low

34th 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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