Warenski-Duvall Commercial Building and Apartments · Photo: Karrol Broschinsky · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Murray than in 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Murray gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #105 of 119 in Utah. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (76%), then river and rain flooding (24%). Flood insurance has paid 36 claims here since 1982.
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 Murray 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 Murray’s grade
Earthquakes are 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Murray, and Murray’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 24% (lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #105 of 119 in Utah; higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Murray’s residents live in 21 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, Murray has more expected damage per building than 88% of Utah towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $39.6M a year in losses across Murray: $18.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Murray flood? Sometimes: 36 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Murray, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Murray isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Salt Lake County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Murray
Disasters that paid out in Murray itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Murray), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Earthquake and Aftershocks16 households applied for aid$19K aid approved
Salt Lake County has had 6 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 3 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Salt Lake County, 2010–2021.
Old photos of Murray after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Murray archive →Murray and its neighbors
Murray is 6th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Jordan | Bless damage than 59% | earthquakes | 3 |
| Cottonwood Heights | B−more damage than 53% | earthquakes | 2 |
| Midvale | Cmore damage than 74% | earthquakes | — |
| Taylorsville | C−more damage than 75% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Holladay | C−more damage than 79% | earthquakes | 3 |
| Murray | C−more damage than 85% | earthquakes | 36 |
| Millcreek | Dmore damage than 85% | 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 Murray 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 Murray
Is Murray at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Murray has higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #105 of 119 in Utah. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (76%) and river and rain flooding (24%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Murray flood?
Flood insurance has paid 36 claims in Murray since 1982, $257K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Murray 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 Salt Lake County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Murray?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Murray’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 Murray?
By FEMA money that reached Murray, Earthquake and Aftershocks (2020): 16 households applied for aid, $19K approved.
Is Murray at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Murray’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Murray.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Murray’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.