Home › Nevada › Carson City City

Carson City City, Nevada

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
6th of 17highest risk in Nevada
$41Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 100homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Carson City City, Nevada has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 76% of US counties. It ranks 6th of 17 counties in Nevada. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $41 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $700 per resident. Since 1986 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2017 (severe winter storms, flooding and mudslides). About 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (186 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $559,000 on 91 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Carson City City

Earthquake

Moderate
$29.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 35 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$6.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 years.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Wildfire

Moderate
$2.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 145 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeModerate96.6
$30M
Inland floodingLow46.1
$7M
WildfireModerate93.5
$3M
Winter weatherHigh93.4
$641K
Heat waveLow54.2
$523K
LightningLow50.3
$271K
Strong windLow19.1
$194K
HailVery Low20.2
$82K
AvalancheLow77.0
$46K
TornadoVery Low1.9
$4K
LandslideVery Low45.6
$1K
DroughtVery Low14.7
$558
Volcanic activityVery Low49.8
$14

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively low and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Carson City City. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire5
Severe Storm4
Snowstorm2
Flood1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Mar 27, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 27, 2006Linehan Fire ComplexFire management
Feb 3, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 23, 2005SnowEmergency
Feb 17, 2005Record And/Or Near Record SnowEmergency
Aug 26, 2004Wildland FireMajor disaster
Jul 14, 2004Waterfall FireFire management
Sep 29, 2003Nv - Voltaire-2 Fire - 09-29-2003Fire management
Show all 13
Jun 17, 2003Nv - Highway-50 Fire - 06/17/2003Fire management
Jan 3, 1997Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and LandslidesMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Nevada also had 23 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1992

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 44 storm reports in Carson City City since 1992, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $4.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on April 27, 2005 near Carson City Arpt.

1tornadoes
6hail reports, largest 1 inches
7damaging thunderstorm winds
4floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 27, 2005F0Carson City Arpt0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Dec 31, 2005FloodStewart$3M
Jan 1, 2006FloodStewart$1M
Dec 26, 1996Heavy RainCarson City$100K
Jul 20, 2014Flash FloodStewart$50K
Jul 20, 2014Flash FloodStewart$10K
Jun 10, 2023Debris FlowStewart$10K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 3, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Carson City City

Check your address flood zone ›
1%of homes have federal flood insurance (186 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$559,214paid on 91 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $175,953 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Carson City City

$453,000median home value (Nevada $435,400, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Nevada 1996, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.8%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 25,156 housing units.

Compare in Nevada

All 17 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Clark CountyVery HighInland flooding
Washoe CountyHighEarthquake
Lyon CountyLowEarthquake
Carson City CityLowEarthquake
Elko CountyModerateWildfire
Nye CountyLowInland flooding
Douglas CountyModerateEarthquake
Churchill CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Washoe CountyHigh52
Placer County, CAModerate24
Lyon CountyLow12
Douglas CountyModerate23
Storey CountyVery Low11

Cities in Carson City City

Common questions about Carson City City

What is the biggest natural hazard in Carson City City?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Carson City City, about $29.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $6.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Carson City City had?

Carson City City has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1986, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides in March 2017.

Is Carson City City a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 6th highest of 17 in Nevada. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Carson City City?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 100 homes in Carson City City has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Carson City City had?

NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Carson City City since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on April 27, 2005 near Carson City Arpt. The weather service has also logged 6 hail reports and 4 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole city, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.