FEMA rates relative earthquake risk for Salt Lake County as relatively high and reports modeled annual probability of 0.41% per year for the area.
FEMA summary
FEMA's profile for Salt Lake County reports modeled annual probability of 0.41% per year for earthquake. FEMA's relative risk rating for the area is relatively 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 Salt Lake County.
Earthquake
FEMA combines its area-wide loss estimate and community data in this relative rating. Event frequency appears separately below.
Relative FEMA score
99.6/100
FEMA models earthquake annualized frequency as the probability of a qualifying occurrence in a given year across the FEMA geography shown.
The area loss estimate combines FEMA's modeled losses to buildings, population, and agriculture across Salt Lake County. It is not an estimate for a home or address.
Local context
West Jordan is part of the Salt Lake Valley, where the 2020 magnitude 5.7 Magna earthquake gave residents a recent example of how shaking can disrupt daily life without being the largest earthquake the region could experience. The city continues to participate in the Great Utah ShakeOut and includes earthquakes in its multi-hazard planning.
West Jordan’s building criteria use Seismic Design Category D2 for residential work and Category D for commercial work. Mapped ground motions and soil class vary by site, so homeowners should review address-level geotechnical records and the building’s construction details.
For homeowners and movers
Preparedness actions
Living in West Jordan? Learn how to handle water storage, sanitation, and security in a small space.
The map shows West Jordan. All FEMA figures on this page cover Salt Lake County.
The FEMA figures cover Salt Lake County. Address-level conditions require local maps, building records, and property details.
FEMA rates relative earthquake risk for Salt Lake County as relatively high. Its modeled annual probability is 0.41% per year. Damage at a specific address also depends on the building, soil, elevation, and exact hazard zone.
Among 10 Utah cities covered by this directory, West Jordan is Tied #1 for relative earthquake risk based on FEMA's score for Salt Lake County. 4 covered cities share this rank because they use the same FEMA geography. Homes within West Jordan can have different soil, elevation, construction, and hazard-zone conditions.
In FEMA's data for Salt Lake County, the highest relative ratings are Earthquake (Relatively High), Wildfire (Relatively High), and Winter Weather (Very High). FEMA uses estimated losses and community data along with event frequency when assigning these ratings.
The hazard numbers cover Salt Lake County. For an individual home, check local fault, flood, fire, evacuation, and building records for the exact address.
FEMA gives Salt Lake 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: Check whether your home has an unbraced cripple wall, an unbolted foundation, or an unsecured water heater; use a qualified local professional for retrofit decisions. Secure tall furniture and heavy objects that could fall where people sleep or sit. Use Ready.gov Earthquakes and local emergency guidance for a complete plan.
Distances are measured between city coordinates.
| City | Distance | Earthquake rating | Relative score |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Valley City, UT | 6 mi | Relatively High | 99.6 |
| Sandy, UT | 8 mi | Relatively High | 99.6 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 13 mi | Relatively High | 99.6 |
| Orem, UT | 26 mi | Relatively High | 98.9 |
| Provo, UT | 31 mi | Relatively High | 98.9 |
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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.