Clark County, Nevada Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NV
Very HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 100th
Clark County faces very high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 99.6, 100th national percentile), driven primarily by heat wave and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $813M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Clark County is very high, with a National Risk Index score of 99.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 100th national percentile and among the most at-risk counties in the United States. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Very High risk — $295M in expected annual loss and about 11.75 events per year; riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Very High risk — $362M in expected annual loss and about 7.25 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at High risk — $124M in expected annual loss and about 0.02 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $813M in expected annual loss for a population of 2.26M.
Beyond physical exposure, Clark County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Clark County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1981, including 5 for fire events and 2 for biological events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in April 2020.
Among 17 Nevada counties, Clark County ranks #1 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Heat Wave | Very High | 11.75 / yr | $295M |
| Riverine Flood | Very High | 7.25 / yr | $362M |
| Earthquake | High | 0.02 / yr | $124M |
| Wildfire | High | 0.00 / yr | $24M |
| Hail | High | 0.12 / yr | $4M |
| Landslide | Medium | 5.43 / yr | $70K |
| Lightning | High | 24.30 / yr | $891K |
| Avalanche | Medium | 0.07 / yr | $913K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.30 / yr | $804K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 2.17 / yr | $89K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $4 |
| Drought | Very Low | 69.87 / yr | $1K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.17 / yr | $51K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $1 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Clark County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1981, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in April 2020. Most frequent causes: Fire (5), Biological (2), Severe Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| July 2013 | Fire | Carpenter 1 Fire |
| July 2010 | Fire | Cathedral Fire |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 2005 | Fire | Good Springs Fire |
| March 2005 | Severe Storm | Heavy Rains and Flooding |
| February 2005 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| February 2005 | Snowstorm | Record and/Or Near Record Snow |
| July 2004 | Fire | Robbers Fire |
Showing the 10 most recent of 14 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Clark County?
Clark County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 99.6 out of 100, placing it in the Very High category and the 100th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Clark County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Heat Wave (Very High, $295M EAL), Riverine Flood (Very High, $362M EAL), Earthquake (High, $124M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Clark County compare to other Nevada counties?
Clark County ranks #1 of 17 Nevada counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Clark County had?
FEMA records 14 federal disaster declarations for Clark County since 1981, most often 5 for fire events and 2 for biological events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic, declared in April 2020.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Clark County's $813M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.