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Lander County, Nevada

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

Very Low overall risk
12th of 17highest risk in Nevada
$4Mexpected losses a year
4federal declarations
1 in 33homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Lander County, Nevada has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 83% of US counties. It ranks 12th of 17 counties in Nevada. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $4.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $712 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (no major disasters). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). About 1 in 33 homes here carry federal flood insurance (106 policies).

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

Top risks in Lander County

Wildfire

Moderate
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 180 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$1.2 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.
$469,193 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 40 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
WildfireModerate94.0
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low15.7
$1M
EarthquakeLow69.2
$469K
DroughtModerate74.9
$435K
Heat waveVery Low29.1
$79K
Winter weatherModerate67.0
$73K
Cold waveVery Low9.3
$42K
LightningVery Low10.7
$23K
Strong windVery Low2.6
$8K
HailVery Low3.5
$4K
TornadoVery Low1.8
$1K
LandslideVery Low52.1
$964
AvalancheVery Low51.5
$395
Volcanic activityVery Low30.6
$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 very 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 Lander County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm2
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
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 1965

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 77 storm reports in Lander County since 1965, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on May 5, 1994 near Lander County.

3tornadoes
17hail reports, largest 3 inches
43damaging thunderstorm winds
14floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 5, 1994F1Lander County0 / 0
May 21, 2014EF0Gold Acres0 / 0
Oct 3, 2018EF0Austin0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 10, 2023FloodPeterson Station$6M
Mar 10, 2023FloodCortez$400K
Jul 16, 2015Thunderstorm WindKingston Canyon$50K
Sep 4, 2013Flash FloodBattle Mtn$10K
May 26, 2022Thunderstorm WindBattle Mtn$7K
May 5, 1994TornadoLander County$5K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Sep 3, 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 Lander County

Check your address flood zone ›
3%of homes have federal flood insurance (106 policies)
11.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1,058paid on 3 flood claims since 1978
1983costliest year, with $1,058 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 Lander County

$213,800median home value (Nevada $435,400, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Nevada 1996, US 1980)
34%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
50%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; 2,739 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
Churchill CountyLow5
Humboldt CountyVery Low6
Pershing CountyVery Low2
Eureka CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Lander County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lander County?

Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Lander County, about $1.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Lander County had?

Lander County has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including no major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.

Is Lander County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 12th 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 Lander County?

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

NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Lander County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on May 5, 1994 near Lander County. The weather service has also logged 17 hail reports and 14 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.