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Humboldt County, Nevada

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

Very Low overall risk
9th of 17highest risk in Nevada
$16Mexpected losses a year
6federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Humboldt County, Nevada has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 59% of US counties. It ranks 9th of 17 counties in Nevada. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $914 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2017 (severe winter storms, flooding and mudslides). Only 5 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $79,000 on 16 claims here.

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

Top risks in Humboldt County

Wildfire

Moderate
$9.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 45 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$2.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 70 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
WildfireModerate97.1
$10M
Inland floodingVery Low17.0
$3M
EarthquakeLow78.6
$2M
DroughtModerate80.8
$1M
Heat waveLow38.8
$267K
Winter weatherModerate70.6
$164K
LightningVery Low11.7
$49K
AvalancheLow76.9
$46K
Cold waveVery Low5.8
$33K
Strong windVery Low2.8
$17K
TornadoVery Low2.1
$4K
HailVery Low2.2
$4K
LandslideVery Low37.0
$656
Volcanic activityVery Low33.6
$4

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 Humboldt County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm2
Drought1
Flood1
Hurricane1
Severe Storm1

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
Feb 28, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 11, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 98 storm reports in Humboldt County since 1958 and about $3.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on August 14, 1979.

8tornadoes
13hail reports, largest 1.5 inches
63damaging thunderstorm winds
12floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 14, 1979F0–0 / 0
Aug 29, 2003F0Paradise Vly0 / 0
Jun 25, 2004F0Winnemucca0 / 0
Jun 25, 2004F0Paradise Vly0 / 0
Jun 27, 2004F0Winnemucca0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 7, 2017FloodAdelaide$3M
Aug 13, 2012Thunderstorm WindRebel Creek$50K
May 31, 2009Flash FloodWinnemucca$30K
Jun 5, 2016Thunderstorm WindOrovada$10K
Jun 5, 2009Flash FloodOrovada$5K
Jul 8, 2015Thunderstorm WindWinnemuca Arpt$5K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Oct 23, 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 Humboldt County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (5 policies)
6.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$79,258paid on 16 flood claims since 1978
1984costliest year, with $60,204 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 Humboldt County

$278,300median home value (Nevada $435,400, US $332,700)
1991median year homes were built (Nevada 1996, US 1980)
33%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
34.1%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; 7,768 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
Elko CountyModerate17
Malheur County, ORVery Low5
Owyhee County, IDLow4
Harney County, ORVery Low6
Pershing CountyVery Low2
Lander CountyVery Low4

Common questions about Humboldt County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Humboldt County?

Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Humboldt County, about $9.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Humboldt County had?

Humboldt County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides in March 2017.

Is Humboldt County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 9th 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 Humboldt County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Humboldt 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 Humboldt County had?

NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in Humboldt County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on August 14, 1979. The weather service has also logged 13 hail reports and 12 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.