FEMA rates relative heat wave risk for Maricopa County as very high and reports FEMA annualized frequency of 15.752 per year for the area.
FEMA summary
FEMA's profile for Maricopa County reports FEMA annualized frequency of 15.752 per year for heat wave. FEMA's relative risk rating for the area is very high; the annualized frequency is a separate measure.
Hazard metrics cover FEMA county-equivalent geographies rather than individual addresses or parcels. Use local or state hazard maps before making a property, insurance, retrofit, or evacuation decision.
Select a hazard to inspect FEMA's figures for Maricopa County.
Heat Wave
FEMA combines its area-wide loss estimate and community data in this relative rating. Event frequency appears separately below.
Relative FEMA score
99.8/100
Occurrence thresholds vary by hazard. The FEMA methodology defines the value for each hazard.
The area loss estimate combines FEMA's modeled losses to buildings, population, and agriculture across Maricopa County. It is not an estimate for a home or address.
City risk summary
For Mesa, FEMA rates heat wave risk for Maricopa County as very high, with a relative score of 99.8/100. The next highest relative scores are wildfire at 99.7/100 and hail at 99.3/100.
Using FEMA data for Maricopa County, Mesa is tied #1 among 16 covered Arizona entries for heat wave risk; 12 entries share that score. Gilbert is about 6.5 straight-line miles from the Mesa map point and uses the same FEMA geography.
For homeowners and movers
Preparedness actions
Living in Mesa? Learn how to handle water storage, sanitation, and security in a small space.
The map shows Mesa. All FEMA figures on this page cover Maricopa County.
The FEMA figures cover Maricopa County. Address-level conditions require local maps, building records, and property details.
FEMA rates relative heat wave risk for Maricopa County as very high. Its FEMA annualized frequency is 15.752 per year. Damage at a specific address also depends on the building, soil, elevation, and exact hazard zone.
Among 16 Arizona cities covered by this directory, Mesa is Tied #1 for relative heat wave risk based on FEMA's score for Maricopa County. 12 covered cities share this rank because they use the same FEMA geography. Homes within Mesa can have different soil, elevation, construction, and hazard-zone conditions.
In FEMA's data for Maricopa County, the highest relative ratings are Heat Wave (Very High), Wildfire (Relatively High), and Hail (Relatively High). FEMA uses estimated losses and community data along with event frequency when assigning these ratings.
The hazard numbers cover Maricopa County. For an individual home, check local fault, flood, fire, evacuation, and building records for the exact address.
FEMA gives Maricopa County an overall relative risk rating of relatively high. Conditions at a specific home depend on its hazard zones, building type, maintenance, insurance, and access to evacuation routes and emergency services.
Start with this step: Confirm the exact hazard using official local maps before making property or insurance decisions. Know how local officials issue warnings and evacuation instructions. Use Ready.gov Be Informed and local emergency guidance for a complete plan.
Distances are measured between city coordinates.
| City | Distance | Heat Wave rating | Relative score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilbert, AZ | 7 mi | Very High | 99.8 |
| Chandler, AZ | 11 mi | Very High | 99.8 |
| Tempe, AZ | 12 mi | Very High | 99.8 |
| San Tan Valley, AZ | 18 mi | Relatively High | 98.8 |
| Scottsdale, AZ | 21 mi | Very High | 99.8 |
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View productHazard metrics come from FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 (March 2023). City population and coordinates come from SimpleMaps US Cities Database. For current conditions, use official local maps, warnings, inspections, and professional advice.