Carson City, NV
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Carson City has experienced 15 federally declared disasters since 1986, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Carson City's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, wildfire, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (85th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Carson City has been designated in 15 declarations since 1986, covering 6 disaster types including fire (5), severe storm (4), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2006 | Fire | Linehan Fire Complex |
| 2005 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005 | Snowstorm | Record And/Or Near Record Snow |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Fire | Wildland Fire |
Showing the 10 most recent of 15 total declarations since 1986.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | 93.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 46.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 96.6 | 46 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 54.2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 1.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 20.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 19.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 93.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | No Rating | 0 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 50.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 14.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 45.6 | 2 | 0 | $10K |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | 77 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 49.8 | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Carson City ranks in the 85th percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 68th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 70th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 73rd | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 98th | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 98th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 98th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 10.3% | — |
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Carson City?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Carson City, Nevada are earthquake, wildfire, and winter weather. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Carson City received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Carson City has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1986, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is fire (5 declarations).
Has Carson City had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Carson City since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Carson City's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, El Dorado County, CA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Alpine County, CA has the lowest (Very Low). Carson City is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Carson City's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Carson City's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Carson City's composite score of 76 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 76% of US counties.