Humboldt County, Nevada
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 97.1 | $10M | ||
| Inland flooding | 17.0 | $3M | ||
| Earthquake | 78.6 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 80.8 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 38.8 | $267K | ||
| Winter weather | 70.6 | $164K | ||
| Lightning | 11.7 | $49K | ||
| Avalanche | 76.9 | $46K | ||
| Cold wave | 5.8 | $33K | ||
| Strong wind | 2.8 | $17K | ||
| Tornado | 2.1 | $4K | ||
| Hail | 2.2 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 37.0 | $656 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 33.6 | $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
Most recent
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 14, 1979 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 29, 2003 | F0 | Paradise Vly | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 25, 2004 | F0 | Winnemucca | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 25, 2004 | F0 | Paradise Vly | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 27, 2004 | F0 | Winnemucca | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 7, 2017 | Flood | Adelaide | $3M |
| Aug 13, 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Rebel Creek | $50K |
| May 31, 2009 | Flash Flood | Winnemucca | $30K |
| Jun 5, 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Orovada | $10K |
| Jun 5, 2009 | Flash Flood | Orovada | $5K |
| Jul 8, 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Winnemuca 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washoe County | 52 | |
| Elko County | 17 | |
| Malheur County, OR | 5 | |
| Owyhee County, ID | 4 | |
| Harney County, OR | 6 | |
| Pershing County | 2 | |
| Lander County | 4 |
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.