La Paz County, AZ
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
La Paz County has experienced 7 federally declared disasters since 1983, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
La Paz County's highest-rated hazards are inland flooding, heat wave, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 47% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (92nd percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. La Paz County has been designated in 7 declarations since 1983, covering 4 disaster types including biological (2), flood (2), severe storm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2001 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 1983 | Flood | Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | 70.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 91.5 | 88 | 0 | $928K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 79 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 90.2 | 46 | 27 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 4.6 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 16.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 7.7 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 19.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | No Rating | 0 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 6.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 80.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 56.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 13.9 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 42.7 | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
La Paz County ranks in the 92nd percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92nd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 92nd | High |
| Household characteristics | 97th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 82nd | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 58th | Moderate |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 43rd | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 44th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 32.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 136 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 55 in 2016–20 vs 81 in 2021–25 (+47% — frequency increasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in La Paz County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in La Paz County, Arizona are inland flooding, heat wave, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has La Paz County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. La Paz County has received 7 federal disaster declarations since 1983, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has La Paz County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for La Paz County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does La Paz County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Maricopa County, AZ has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Very High) and Yuma County, AZ has the lowest (Relatively Moderate). La Paz County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is La Paz County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
La Paz County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. La Paz County's composite score of 84 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 84% of US counties.