Earthquake Risk in Nevada
All Nevada counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index earthquake score
Earthquake risk — ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults — is rated for 17 of 17 Nevada counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Washoe County carries the state's highest earthquake score at 99.2, with $160M in expected annual earthquake losses.
2 Nevada counties are rated High or Very High for earthquake, and expected annual losses from earthquake total roughly $366M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Earthquake
| # | County | Earthquake Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washoe County | High | 0.04 / yr | $160M | |
| 2 | Clark County | High | 0.02 / yr | $124M | |
| 3 | Carson City City | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $30M | |
| 4 | Douglas County | Medium | 0.05 / yr | $18M | |
| 5 | Lyon County | Medium | 0.05 / yr | $12M | |
| 6 | Churchill County | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $7M | |
| 7 | Nye County | Medium | 0.04 / yr | $4M | |
| 8 | Mineral County | Low | 0.07 / yr | $2M | |
| 9 | Elko County | Low | 0.01 / yr | $3M | |
| 10 | Storey County | Low | 0.02 / yr | $2M | |
| 11 | Lincoln County | Low | 0.02 / yr | $944K | |
| 12 | Humboldt County | Low | 0.01 / yr | $2M | |
| 13 | Lander County | Low | 0.03 / yr | $469K | |
| 14 | Esmeralda County | Low | 0.07 / yr | $455K | |
| 15 | White Pine County | Low | 0.01 / yr | $626K | |
| 16 | Pershing County | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $247K | |
| 17 | Eureka County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $225K |
17 Nevada counties with measurable earthquake risk. See the national earthquake ranking or all Nevada counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Nevada county has the highest earthquake risk?
Washoe County has the highest FEMA earthquake risk score in Nevada at 99.2 (High), with $160M in expected annual losses and about 0.04 events per year.
How many Nevada counties face significant earthquake risk?
17 Nevada counties record measurable earthquake risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 2 of them are rated High or Very High.