Esmeralda County, Nevada
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Esmeralda County, Nevada has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 98% of US counties. It ranks 17th of 17 counties in Nevada. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $1.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,808 per resident. Since 2005 it has been included in 1 federal disaster or emergency declaration for natural events (no major disasters). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). No homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Esmeralda County
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | 68.7 | $455K | ||
| Inland flooding | 4.7 | $414K | ||
| Drought | 65.7 | $253K | ||
| Heat wave | 41.0 | $150K | ||
| Wildfire | 34.7 | $12K | ||
| Cold wave | 5.2 | $11K | ||
| Lightning | 4.7 | $10K | ||
| Winter weather | 7.7 | $4K | ||
| Strong wind | 1.4 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 43.6 | $535 | ||
| Avalanche | 43.1 | $198 | ||
| Hail | 0.9 | $110 | ||
| Tornado | 0.9 | $57 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 27.4 | $1 |
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 high 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 Esmeralda County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Nevada also had 23 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1982
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 26 storm reports in Esmeralda County since 1982 and about $587,030 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on August 27, 1982.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 1982 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 18, 2023 | Flash Flood | Dyer Arpt | $250K |
| Aug 1, 2022 | Flash Flood | Lida | $100K |
| Jul 13, 2012 | Lightning | Dyer | $50K |
| Aug 22, 2012 | Flash Flood | Lida | $50K |
| Jul 23, 1998 | Flash Flood | West Central Portion | $40K |
| Apr 20, 2010 | Lightning | Silver Peak | $25K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 2023. 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 Esmeralda County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Esmeralda County
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; 690 housing units.
Compare in Nevada
All 17 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Clark County | Inland flooding | |
| Washoe County | Earthquake | |
| Lyon County | Earthquake | |
| Carson City City | Earthquake | |
| Elko County | Wildfire | |
| Nye County | Inland flooding | |
| Douglas County | Earthquake | |
| Churchill County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Nye County | 3 | |
| Inyo County, CA | 14 | |
| Mono County, CA | 12 | |
| Mineral County | 5 |
Common questions about Esmeralda County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Esmeralda County?
Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Esmeralda County, about $454,762 a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $413,915.
How many federal disasters has Esmeralda County had?
Esmeralda County has been included in 1 federal disaster or emergency declaration for natural events since 2005, including no major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.
Is Esmeralda County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 17th 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 Esmeralda County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Esmeralda County had?
NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Esmeralda County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on August 27, 1982. The weather service has also logged 0 hail reports and 20 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.