Douglas County, Nevada Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NV
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 84th
Douglas County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 84.4, 84th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $45M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Douglas County at medium composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 84.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 84th national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at High risk — $10M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Medium risk — $18M in expected annual loss and about 0.05 events per year; and winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at High risk — $723K in expected annual loss and about 15.17 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $45M in expected annual loss for a population of 49K.
Beyond physical exposure, Douglas County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a 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: Douglas County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 13 for fire events and 4 for severe storm events. The most recent was Conner Fire (fire), declared in June 2025.
Among 17 Nevada counties, Douglas County ranks #4 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | High | 0.01 / yr | $10M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.05 / yr | $18M |
| Winter Weather | High | 15.17 / yr | $723K |
| Drought | Medium | 69.43 / yr | $748K |
| Avalanche | Low | 0.10 / yr | $67K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.79 / yr | $13M |
| Landslide | Low | 2.31 / yr | $4K |
| Lightning | Medium | 19.40 / yr | $341K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 2.92 / yr | $545K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $6 |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.17 / yr | $81K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.14 / yr | $174K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $4K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Cold Wave | 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
Douglas County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Conner Fire in June 2025. Most frequent causes: Fire (13), Severe Storm (4), Flood (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| June 2025 | Fire | Conner Fire |
| July 2024 | Fire | Spring Valley Fire |
| April 2023 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| July 2021 | Fire | Tamarack Fire |
| June 2021 | Fire | Jacks Valley Fire |
| July 2020 | Fire | Numbers Fire |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| August 2019 | Fire | Canyon Fire |
| July 2017 | Fire | Preacher Fire |
Showing the 10 most recent of 25 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Douglas County?
Douglas County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 84.4 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 84th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Douglas County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (High, $10M EAL), Earthquake (Medium, $18M EAL), Winter Weather (High, $723K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Douglas County compare to other Nevada counties?
Douglas County ranks #4 of 17 Nevada counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Douglas County had?
FEMA records 25 federal disaster declarations for Douglas County since 1965, most often 13 for fire events and 4 for severe storm events. The most recent was Conner Fire, declared in June 2025.
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. Douglas County's $45M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.