Photo: Ken Lund · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Richfield faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Richfield gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #54 of 119 in Utah. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (60%), then river and rain flooding (37%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1983.
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 Richfield 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 Richfield’s grade
Earthquakes are 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Richfield, and Richfield’s rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 37% (lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #54 of 119 in Utah; higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Richfield’s residents live in 2 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, Richfield has less expected damage per building than 55% of Utah towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.5M a year in losses across Richfield: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Richfield flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Richfield, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Richfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sevier County.The storms Richfield remembers
None of the 5 disasters declared for Sevier County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Richfield itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19832 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Landslides and Flooding, declared for Sevier County
Sevier County has had 5 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Sevier County, 2025–2025.
Old photos of Richfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Richfield archive →Get ready for what Richfield 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 Richfield
Is Richfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Richfield has higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #54 of 119 in Utah. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (60%) and river and rain flooding (37%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Richfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Richfield since 1983, $18K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Richfield 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 Sevier County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Richfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Richfield’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Richfield at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Richfield’s rate for it is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Richfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Richfield’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.