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Lyon County, Nevada

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

Relatively Low overall risk
7th of 17highest risk in Nevada
$33Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 83homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Lyon County, Nevada has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 71% of US counties. It ranks 7th of 17 counties in Nevada. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $33 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $557 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2023 (severe winter storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 83 homes here carry federal flood insurance (325 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $679,000 on 24 claims here.

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

Top risks in Lyon County

Earthquake

Moderate
$11.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 20 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$11.1 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$7.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 185 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeModerate93.8
$12M
Inland floodingLow63.5
$11M
WildfireModerate96.8
$7M
Heat waveLow67.6
$893K
DroughtModerate69.9
$570K
Winter weatherHigh90.9
$476K
LightningLow55.4
$313K
Strong windLow25.2
$264K
HailVery Low33.5
$151K
Ice stormLow34.3
$44K
TornadoVery Low2.2
$4K
LandslideVery Low34.4
$473
AvalancheVery Low21.6
$48
Volcanic activityVery Low50.8
$15

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 relatively 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 Lyon County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm4
Flood3
Snowstorm2
Fire2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Apr 27, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 17, 2018Upper Colony FireFire management
Feb 17, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 8, 2008Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 27, 2006Linehan Fire ComplexFire management
Feb 3, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 23, 2005SnowEmergency
Feb 17, 2005Record And/Or Near Record SnowEmergency
Jan 3, 1997Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and LandslidesMajor disaster
Show all 12
Feb 28, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 18, 1965Severe Storms, Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1979

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 102 storm reports in Lyon County since 1979, with 2 deaths and 2 injuries and about $8.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on June 7, 1989.

4tornadoes
10hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
30damaging thunderstorm winds
31floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 7, 1989F0–0 / 0
Jun 9, 1997F0Silver Spgs0 / 0
Jun 11, 1998F0Fernley0 / 0
Jun 11, 1998F0Fernley0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 5, 2008Flash FloodFernley$7M
Jan 8, 2017FloodDayton$1M
Dec 31, 2005FloodWellington$305K
Jan 1, 2006FloodWellington$165K
Jul 12, 2002Thunderstorm WindDayton$50K
May 19, 2006FloodWellington$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 19, 2026. 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 Lyon County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (325 policies)
17.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$678,570paid on 24 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $246,320 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 Lyon County

$366,100median home value (Nevada $435,400, US $332,700)
1998median year homes were built (Nevada 1996, US 1980)
22%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17.8%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; 25,436 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
Carson City CityLow13
Douglas CountyModerate23
Churchill CountyLow5
Mono County, CALow12
Mineral CountyVery Low5
Storey CountyVery Low11

Common questions about Lyon County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lyon County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Lyon County, about $11.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $11.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Lyon County had?

Lyon County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2023.

Is Lyon County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 7th 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 Lyon County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 83 homes in Lyon 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 Lyon County had?

NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Lyon County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on June 7, 1989. The weather service has also logged 10 hail reports and 31 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.