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Churchill County, Nevada

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

Relatively Low overall risk
8th of 17highest risk in Nevada
$16Mexpected losses a year
5federal declarations
1 in 67homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Churchill County, Nevada has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 53% of US counties. It ranks 8th of 17 counties in Nevada. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and drought. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $608 per resident. Since 1997 it has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2017 (severe winter storms, flooding and mudslides). About 1 in 67 homes here carry federal flood insurance (176 policies).

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

Top risks in Churchill County

$7.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.

Earthquake

Moderate
$6.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 30 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Drought

Moderate
$792,641 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 144 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow53.2
$7M
EarthquakeModerate91.3
$7M
DroughtModerate76.8
$793K
WildfireLow64.5
$121K
Heat waveVery Low25.0
$100K
LightningLow26.0
$95K
Strong windVery Low10.6
$81K
Winter weatherLow54.2
$77K
HailVery Low8.9
$27K
Ice stormVery Low26.0
$26K
Volcanic activityLow86.6
$4K
TornadoVery Low1.7
$2K
LandslideVery Low39.3
$645
AvalancheVery Low43.3
$331
Cold waveVery Low2.7
$2

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 Churchill County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm2
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Mar 27, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 23, 2005SnowEmergency
Feb 17, 2005Record And/Or Near Record SnowEmergency
Jan 3, 1997Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and LandslidesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1964

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 68 storm reports in Churchill County since 1964 and about $2.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on May 17, 1987.

4tornadoes
12hail reports, largest 1.25 inches
39damaging thunderstorm winds
3floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 17, 1987F0–0 / 0
May 19, 1994F0Fallon0 / 0
Jun 14, 1997F0Nas Fallon0 / 0
May 26, 1964n/a–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 25, 2024LightningNas Fallon$3M
Oct 4, 2010FloodFallon$25K
Jun 18, 2003Thunderstorm WindFallon$10K
Jul 16, 2007Thunderstorm WindSalt Wells$5K
May 18, 2009Thunderstorm WindFallon$2K
Aug 9, 2012Thunderstorm WindFallon$2K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Sep 2, 2025. 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 Churchill County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (176 policies)
24%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$24,670paid on 7 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $14,820 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 Churchill County

$329,900median home value (Nevada $435,400, US $332,700)
1990median year homes were built (Nevada 1996, US 1980)
33%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.9%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; 11,008 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
Lyon CountyLow12
Nye CountyLow3
Pershing CountyVery Low2
Lander CountyVery Low4
Mineral CountyVery Low5

Common questions about Churchill County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Churchill County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Churchill County, about $7.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $6.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Churchill County had?

Churchill County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1997, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides in March 2017.

Is Churchill County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 8th 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 Churchill County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 67 homes in Churchill County 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 Churchill County had?

NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Churchill County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on May 17, 1987. The weather service has also logged 12 hail reports and 3 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 county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.