Carbon County

Utah — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

8.7

National percentile: 9th

Carbon County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 8.7, 9th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $5M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 20K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Landslide
Low $16K/yr
Lightning
Medium $541K/yr
Wildfire
Low $140K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Landslide Low 1.66 / yr $16K
Lightning Medium 51.72 / yr $541K
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $140K
Earthquake Low 0.01 / yr $623K
Avalanche Very Low 0.03 / yr $2K
Winter Weather Medium 28.25 / yr $103K
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $5
Drought Very Low 89.15 / yr $29K
Heat Wave Very Low 0.42 / yr $110K
Riverine Flood Very Low 0.61 / yr $3M
Tornado Very Low 0.05 / yr $101K
Ice Storm Very Low 0.01 / yr $4K
Strong Wind Very Low 0.21 / yr $45K
Hail Very Low 0.14 / yr $8K
Cold Wave Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Hurricane Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Tsunami Very Low 0.00 / yr $0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Carbon County?

Carbon County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 8.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 9th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Carbon County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Low, $16K EAL), Lightning (Medium, $541K EAL), Wildfire (Low, $140K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Carbon County compare to other Utah counties?

Carbon County ranks #21 of 29 Utah counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.

What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?

EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Carbon County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.