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Eureka County, Nevada

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

Very Low overall risk
16th of 17highest risk in Nevada
$4Mexpected losses a year
6federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Eureka County, Nevada has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 95% of US counties. It ranks 16th of 17 counties in Nevada. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $4.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,330 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (1 major disaster). The most recent was in April 2023 (severe winter storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Only 13 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 Eureka County

Wildfire

Moderate
$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 130 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$1.4 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.
$359,268 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 125 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
WildfireModerate90.9
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low7.7
$1M
DroughtLow59.3
$359K
EarthquakeVery Low41.7
$225K
Cold waveVery Low5.9
$38K
Winter weatherLow28.1
$36K
Heat waveVery Low9.6
$22K
LightningVery Low2.2
$9K
HailVery Low2.8
$6K
Strong windVery Low1.3
$4K
LandslideVery Low34.3
$565
TornadoVery Low1.0
$265
AvalancheVery Low31.9
$162
Volcanic activityVery Low16.6
$0

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 very 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 Eureka County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm2
Drought1
Fire1
Hurricane1
Flood1

Most recent

Apr 27, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 16, 2005Carlin FireFire management
Feb 23, 2005SnowEmergency
Feb 17, 2005Record And/Or Near Record SnowEmergency
Jun 11, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1967

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 96 storm reports in Eureka County since 1967 and about $7.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on August 21, 1983.

3tornadoes
14hail reports, largest 1.5 inches
41damaging thunderstorm winds
37floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 21, 1983F0–0 / 0
Jun 9, 2006F0Eureka Arpt0 / 0
Jul 31, 2014EF0Dunphy0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 10, 2023FloodEureka$4M
Mar 10, 2023FloodEureka$800K
Mar 10, 2023FloodEureka$800K
May 15, 2021HailEureka$500K
Mar 10, 2023FloodEureka$500K
Mar 10, 2023FloodTonkin$300K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Sep 2, 2024. 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 Eureka County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (13 policies)
6.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$588paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
2005costliest year, with $588 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 Eureka County

$82,600median home value (Nevada $435,400, US $332,700)
1988median year homes were built (Nevada 1996, US 1980)
40%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
51%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; 976 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
Elko CountyModerate17
Nye CountyLow3
White Pine CountyVery Low5
Lander CountyVery Low4

Common questions about Eureka County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Eureka County?

Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Eureka County, about $2.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Eureka County had?

Eureka County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 1 major disaster. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2023.

Is Eureka County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 16th 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 Eureka County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Eureka 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 Eureka County had?

NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Eureka County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on August 21, 1983. The weather service has also logged 14 hail reports and 37 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.