Lander County, Nevada
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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 | 94.0 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 15.7 | $1M | ||
| Earthquake | 69.2 | $469K | ||
| Drought | 74.9 | $435K | ||
| Heat wave | 29.1 | $79K | ||
| Winter weather | 67.0 | $73K | ||
| Cold wave | 9.3 | $42K | ||
| Lightning | 10.7 | $23K | ||
| Strong wind | 2.6 | $8K | ||
| Hail | 3.5 | $4K | ||
| Tornado | 1.8 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 52.1 | $964 | ||
| Avalanche | 51.5 | $395 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 30.6 | $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
Most recent
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 1994 | F1 | Lander County | 0 / 0 |
| May 21, 2014 | EF0 | Gold Acres | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 3, 2018 | EF0 | Austin | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 10, 2023 | Flood | Peterson Station | $6M |
| Mar 10, 2023 | Flood | Cortez | $400K |
| Jul 16, 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kingston Canyon | $50K |
| Sep 4, 2013 | Flash Flood | Battle Mtn | $10K |
| May 26, 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Battle Mtn | $7K |
| May 5, 1994 | Tornado | Lander 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Elko County | 17 | |
| Nye County | 3 | |
| Churchill County | 5 | |
| Humboldt County | 6 | |
| Pershing County | 2 | |
| Eureka County | 6 |
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.