Clark County, NV
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Clark County has experienced 14 federally declared disasters since 1981, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very High — among the most at-risk counties in the country.
Clark County's highest-rated hazards are heat wave, inland flooding, and wildfire, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 334 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is elevated (86th 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. Clark County has been designated in 14 declarations since 1981, covering 6 disaster types including fire (5), biological (2), snowstorm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013 | Fire | Carpenter 1 Fire |
| 2010 | Fire | Cathedral Fire |
| 2005 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005 | Snowstorm | Record And/Or Near Record Snow |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Heavy Rains And Flooding |
| 2005 | Fire | Good Springs Fire |
| 2004 | Fire | Robbers Fire |
Showing the 10 most recent of 14 total declarations since 1981.
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 High | 99.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very High | 99.6 | 140 | 7 | $29.8M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively High | 99.1 | 18 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very High | 99.9 | 152 | 685 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 9.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively High | 97.3 | 29 | 0 | $50.0M |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 66.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 61.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 2.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 85.8 | 13 | 0 | $588K |
| Drought | Very Low | 16.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 92.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Relatively Moderate | 85.1 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 36.5 | — | — | — |
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
Clark County ranks in the 86th 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 | 86th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 90th | High |
| Household characteristics | 66th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 92nd | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 71st | Moderate |
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 | 75th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 78th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 3.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 334 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 168 in 2016–20 vs 166 in 2021–25 (-1% — relatively stable).
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 Clark County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Clark County, Nevada are heat wave, inland flooding, and wildfire. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very High — among the most at-risk counties in the country.
Has Clark County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Clark County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1981, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is fire (5 declarations).
Has Clark County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Clark County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Clark County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, San Bernardino County, CA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Very High) and Lincoln County, NV has the lowest (Very Low). Clark County is rated Very High overall.
How is Clark County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Clark County'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. Clark County's composite score of 100 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 100% of US counties.