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Douglas County, Nevada

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
4th of 17highest risk in Nevada
$45Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 33homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Douglas County, Nevada has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 84% of US counties. It ranks 4th of 17 counties in Nevada. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $45 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $903 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2025 (Conner Fire). About 1 in 33 homes here carry federal flood insurance (688 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.3 million on 226 claims here, including $2.4 million for floods in 1997.

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

Top risks in Douglas County

Earthquake

Moderate
$18.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 20 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$13 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$10.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 125 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
EarthquakeModerate96.3
$18M
Inland floodingModerate73.8
$13M
WildfireHigh97.9
$10M
DroughtModerate79.1
$748K
Winter weatherHigh96.2
$723K
Heat waveLow62.3
$545K
LightningModerate64.6
$341K
Strong windLow22.4
$174K
HailVery Low25.4
$81K
AvalancheLow77.5
$67K
LandslideLow68.4
$4K
TornadoVery Low2.6
$4K
Volcanic activityVery Low40.7
$6

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 moderate and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Douglas County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire13
Severe Storm4
Flood3
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 20, 2025Conner FireFire management
Jul 16, 2024Spring Valley FireFire management
Apr 27, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jul 22, 2021Tamarack FireFire management
Jun 9, 2021Jacks Valley FireFire management
Jul 7, 2020Numbers FireFire management
Aug 21, 2019Canyon FireFire management
Jul 25, 2017Preacher FireFire management
Mar 27, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 23
Oct 2, 2016Frontage FireFire management
May 22, 2012Tre FireFire management
Sep 10, 2011Holbrook FireFire management
Jul 6, 2007Sleeping Elephant FireFire management
Feb 3, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 23, 2005SnowEmergency
Feb 17, 2005Record And/Or Near Record SnowEmergency
Jul 15, 2002Nv - Gate Fire Complex - 07/15/02Fire management
Jul 3, 2002Nv - Gondola Fire - 07/03/2002Fire management
Jan 3, 1997Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and LandslidesMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 18, 1965Severe Storms, Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1983

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 106 storm reports in Douglas County since 1983, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $9.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF0 tornado on September 21, 2017 near Zephyr Cove.

1tornadoes
10hail reports, largest 1 inches
8damaging thunderstorm winds
26floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 21, 2017EF0Zephyr Cove0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Dec 31, 2022FloodTopaz Lake$5M
Jul 8, 2015Flash FloodDouglas Co Arpt$2M
Dec 31, 2005FloodTopaz Lake$973K
Jan 8, 2017FloodGenoa$750K
Jan 1, 2006FloodMinden$524K
Jul 9, 2015Flash FloodDouglas Co Arpt$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Sep 25, 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 Douglas County

Check your address flood zone ›
3%of homes have federal flood insurance (688 policies)
31.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.3 millionpaid on 226 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $2.4 million 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 Douglas County

$615,400median home value (Nevada $435,400, US $332,700)
1990median year homes were built (Nevada 1996, US 1980)
31%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.5%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; 24,825 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
Placer County, CAModerate24
El Dorado County, CAModerate25
Lyon CountyLow12
Carson City CityLow13
Mono County, CALow12
Alpine County, CAVery Low13

Common questions about Douglas County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Douglas County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Douglas County, about $18.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $13 million.

How many federal disasters has Douglas County had?

Douglas County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Conner Fire in June 2025.

Is Douglas County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 4th 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 Douglas County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 33 homes in Douglas 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 Douglas County had?

NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Douglas County since 1950. The strongest was an EF0 tornado on September 21, 2017 near Zephyr Cove. The weather service has also logged 10 hail reports and 26 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.