White Pine County, Nevada
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
White Pine County, Nevada has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 88% of US counties. It ranks 13th of 17 counties in Nevada. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $5.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $613 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (1 major disaster). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). About 1 in 71 homes here carry federal flood insurance (77 policies).
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in White Pine County
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 24.1 | $3M | ||
| Cold wave | 43.3 | $760K | ||
| Wildfire | 84.2 | $662K | ||
| Earthquake | 65.2 | $626K | ||
| Winter weather | 85.2 | $289K | ||
| Drought | 48.6 | $134K | ||
| Heat wave | 20.0 | $63K | ||
| Lightning | 16.1 | $56K | ||
| Strong wind | 2.3 | $11K | ||
| Landslide | 66.2 | $4K | ||
| Hail | 2.4 | $3K | ||
| Avalanche | 55.6 | $976 | ||
| Tornado | 1.0 | $161 |
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 White Pine 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 1961
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 93 storm reports in White Pine County since 1961, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $44,100 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on September 11, 1975.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 11, 1975 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 20, 1984 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 17, 1987 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 12, 1988 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 23, 1998 | F0 | Ely | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 1964 | Tornado | – | $25K |
| Aug 12, 2015 | Flash Flood | Baker Arpt | $5K |
| Sep 21, 2014 | Flash Flood | Preston | $2K |
| Aug 12, 2014 | Flash Flood | Warm Spgs | $2K |
| Aug 12, 2014 | Debris Flow | Baker | $2K |
| Aug 10, 2014 | Flash Flood | Lages Station | $2K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 17, 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 White Pine 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 White Pine 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; 4,160 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tooele County, UT | 9 | |
| Elko County | 17 | |
| Nye County | 3 | |
| Millard County, UT | 9 | |
| Juab County, UT | 7 | |
| Lincoln County | 6 | |
| Eureka County | 6 |
Common questions about White Pine County
What is the biggest natural hazard in White Pine County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in White Pine County, about $2.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $759,627.
How many federal disasters has White Pine County had?
White Pine County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 1 major disaster. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.
Is White Pine County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 13th 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 White Pine County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 71 homes in White Pine 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 White Pine County had?
NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in White Pine County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on September 11, 1975. The weather service has also logged 9 hail reports and 26 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.