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Natural hazard risk in Washoe County, Nevada

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively High (score 96.6 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$273.8 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1965
52[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$30.9 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
13[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) gives Washoe County an overall Relatively High rating, with a Risk Index score of 96.6 out of 100[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores in this county are earthquake, winter weather and wildfire[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA rates overall natural hazard risk in Washoe County Relatively High compared with other US counties[5]. FEMA estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards at $273.8 million a year[1]. The largest hazard-type losses are earthquake ($159.7 million a year), inland flooding ($80.0 million a year) and wildfire ($26.5 million a year)[7]. Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of average yearly loss, and FEMA says the index does not predict next year's damage[8]. FEMA rates Social Vulnerability Relatively Low[9] and Community Resilience Relatively Moderate[10].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
EarthquakeRelatively High$159.7 million[11]
Winter WeatherVery High$2.1 million[12]
WildfireRelatively High$26.5 million[13]
Inland FloodingRelatively High$80.0 million[14]
LightningRelatively High$1.4 million[15]
LandslideRelatively Moderate$65,000[16]
AvalancheRelatively Moderate$1.0 million[17]
Ice StormRelatively Moderate$490,000[18]
Volcanic ActivityVery Low$344[19]
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$1.1 million[20]
HailRelatively Low$413,000[21]
Heat WaveRelatively Low$610,000[22]
DroughtRelatively Low$169,000[23]
TornadoVery Low$146,000[24]
Cold WaveVery Low$0[25]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: coastal flooding, hurricane, tsunami[26].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively Low23.3[9]
Community resilienceRelatively Moderate41.7[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk in Washoe County Relatively High, with an Expected Annual Loss of $80.0 million a year[14]. OpenFEMA lists 1,357 residential flood insurance contracts in force as of 2026-08-03, a penetration rate of 0.8%[27]. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, 30.9% of homes are insured[27]. OpenFEMA's NFIP claims data shows 754 claims filed for losses from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $30.9 million in total[3]. To check a specific address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[28].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[14] Relatively High, $80.0 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[27] 1,357 of 161,088 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[27] 2,714, of which 838 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 754 filed, $30.9 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[28]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 52 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Washoe County since 1965, and 43 of them were for fire[2]. The most recent is FM-5678-NV, the Bull Fire, declared 2026-10-02[29]. NOAA's tornado database records 13 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024, and none were rated F3 or stronger[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Washoe County, since 1965
Incident type Declarations
Fire[2] 43
Severe Storm[2] 4
Flood[2] 2
Snowstorm[2] 2
Hurricane[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
FM-5678-NV[29] Bull Fire 2026-10-02
EM-3653-NV[29] Hawk Fire 2026-09-01
FM-5674-NV[29] Hawk Fire 2026-08-22
FM-5668-NV[29] Stallion Fire 2026-08-11
FM-5667-NV[29] Fred Mountain Fire 2026-08-11

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Earthquakes

Before

  • Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with your family and coworkers.
  • Sign up for earthquake alerts that can warn you before shaking starts.
  • Make a plan with an out-of-state contact and a place to meet if you get separated.
  • Anchor heavy items such as bookcases, refrigerators and water heaters, and keep heavy things on low shelves.
  • Consider earthquake insurance. Standard homeowners policies do not cover earthquake damage.

During

  • Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck, and hold on until the shaking stops.
  • Indoors, stay where you are and avoid doorways. Outdoors, move to an open area away from buildings and power lines.
  • If you are driving, pull over, stop and set the parking brake.

Source: Ready.gov, earthquakes

Winter storms and cold

Before

  • Insulate your home and learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
  • Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup.
  • Keep several days of supplies in case the power goes out, including medication and pet needs.
  • Put an emergency kit in your car with jumper cables, sand, blankets, water and snacks, and keep the tank full.

During

  • Under a winter storm warning, find shelter right away.
  • Stay off the roads if you can. If you are stuck in your car, stay inside it.
  • Run generators and grills only outdoors, away from windows, and never heat your home with an oven or stove.

Source: Ready.gov, winter storms and cold

Wildfires

Before

  • Sign up for community alerts and watch for air quality alerts.
  • Make sure everyone knows the evacuation plan, including for school, work and other places you go often.
  • Keep a fire-resistant zone of at least 30 feet around your home, clear of leaves and debris.
  • Use fire-resistant building materials and keep a hose long enough to reach every part of your property.
  • Pick a room you can seal off from outside air and keep a portable air cleaner ready.

During

  • Leave right away when authorities tell you to evacuate.
  • If you are trapped, call 9-1-1 with your location and turn on lights to help rescuers find you.
  • If you are not ordered to leave but there is smoke, stay in a safe indoor place or go to a community building with less smoke.

Source: Ready.gov, wildfires

Questions people ask

Is Washoe County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively High compared with other US counties, with Expected Annual Loss of $80.0 million a year[14]. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center shows the flood zone for a specific address[28].
Is Washoe County at risk of earthquakes?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Relatively High compared with other US counties, with a score of 99.1 out of 100[11]. FEMA estimates earthquake Expected Annual Loss at $159.7 million a year[11].
Is Washoe County at risk of wildfire?
FEMA rates wildfire risk Relatively High compared with other US counties, with a score of 98.9 out of 100[13]. OpenFEMA lists 43 fire declarations that include the county since 1965[2].
Does Washoe County get hurricanes or tornadoes?
FEMA rates hurricane Not Applicable for Washoe County[26]. FEMA rates tornado risk Very Low compared with other US counties[24].
How many federal disasters have been declared in Washoe County?
OpenFEMA lists 52 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Washoe County since 1965[2].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Washoe County is $273.8 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively High, score 97.2). Of this, buildings account for $207.3 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $66.4... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 52 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Washoe County since 1965 (6 major disaster, 46 emergency or fire management). By incident type: fire 43, severe storm 4, flood 2, snowstorm 2, hurricane 1. Biological (such as COVID-19) and other... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 754 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Washoe County, 566 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $30.9 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid).... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 13 recorded tornadoes touched Washoe County. The strongest were rated F1 (most recent of them on 1973-11-03). 0 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2017-09-13. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Washoe County is Relatively High, with a Risk Index score of 96.6 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Washoe County are earthquake (99.1, Relatively High), winter weather (99.0, Very High), wildfire (98.9, Relatively High). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published scores;... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Washoe County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are earthquake ($159.7 million a year), inland flooding ($80.0 million a year), wildfire ($26.5 million a year), out of $273.8 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  8. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Washoe County is Relatively Low (score 23.3). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Washoe County is Relatively Moderate (score 41.7). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Washoe County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 99.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $159.7 million a year (rating Relatively High). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0409 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Washoe County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 99.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.1 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 11.6 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Washoe County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 98.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $26.5 million a year (rating Relatively High). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0099 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Washoe County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 94.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $80.0 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 1.39 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 26... FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Washoe County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 90.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.4 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 16.65 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Washoe County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 90.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $65,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), avalanche in Washoe County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 84.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.0 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.13 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 28 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Washoe County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 80.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $490,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.01 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), volcanic activity in Washoe County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 78.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $344 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Washoe County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 70.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.1 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.09 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38... FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Washoe County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 59.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $413,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.06 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Washoe County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 58.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $610,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 3.21 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Washoe County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 50.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $169,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 139.07 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Washoe County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 14.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $146,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.11 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Washoe County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 2.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $0 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  26. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Washoe County: coastal flooding, hurricane, tsunami. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically possible there. FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  27. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 1,357 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Washoe County, out of 161,088 residential structures, a penetration rate of 0.8%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 2,714 residential structures and 838 contracts, a... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  28. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  29. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.