Yuma County, AZ
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Yuma County has experienced 6 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.
Yuma County's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, heat wave, and inland flooding, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 82% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (100th 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. Yuma County has been designated in 6 declarations since 1983, covering 4 disaster types including biological (2), flood (2), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1993 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1985 | Severe Storm | Heavy Rain & High Winds |
| 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 | Very Low | 59.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 91 | 53 | 0 | $194K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively High | 98.4 | 2 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | 96.7 | 38 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 14 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 22.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 16.8 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 61.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | No Rating | 0 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 43.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 74.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 45.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 59.9 | — | — | — |
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
Yuma County ranks in the 100th 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 | 100th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 98th | High |
| Household characteristics | 97th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 96th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 98th | High |
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 | 41st | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 39th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 22.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 93 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 33 in 2016–20 vs 60 in 2021–25 (+82% — 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 Yuma County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Yuma County, Arizona are earthquake, heat wave, and inland flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Yuma County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Yuma County has received 6 federal disaster declarations since 1983, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Yuma County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Yuma County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Yuma 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 La Paz County, AZ has the lowest (Relatively Moderate). Yuma County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Yuma County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Yuma 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. Yuma County's composite score of 93 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 93% of US counties.