Photo: Andy K. Nelson · Public domainFEMA puts Brigham City’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 79% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brigham City gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns, #95 of 119 in Utah. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (73%), then river and rain flooding (20%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1987.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Brigham City faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Brigham City’s grade
Earthquakes are 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brigham City, and Brigham City’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 3%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #95 of 119 in Utah; higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brigham City’s residents live in 8 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Utah town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Brigham City has more expected damage per building than 80% of Utah towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $12.3M a year in losses across Brigham City: $5.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brigham City flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1987
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brigham City, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Brigham City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Box Elder County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Brigham City
Disasters that paid out in Brigham City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Brigham City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Flooding$92K to the City of Brigham City for repairs
- 2005Flooding and Landslides$77K to the City of Brigham City for repairs
Box Elder County has had 6 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Brigham City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brigham City archive →Brigham City and its neighbors
Brigham City is 2nd of the 2 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perry | B−less damage than 54% | earthquakes | — |
| Brigham City | C−more damage than 79% | earthquakes | 1 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Brigham City faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Brigham City
Is Brigham City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brigham City has higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #95 of 119 in Utah. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (73%) and river and rain flooding (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brigham City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Brigham City since 1987, $36K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Brigham City in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Box Elder County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Brigham City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brigham City’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Brigham City?
By FEMA money that reached Brigham City, Flooding (2011): $92K to the City of Brigham City for repairs.
Is Brigham City at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and Brigham City’s rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brigham City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brigham City’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.