Pershing County, Nevada Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NV
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 6th
Pershing County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 6.0, 6th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $2M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Pershing County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 6.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 6th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
The county's risk is driven primarily by wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $630K in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $522K in expected annual loss and about 162.67 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Very Low risk — $247K in expected annual loss and about 0.02 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $2M in expected annual loss for a population of 7K.
Beyond physical exposure, Pershing County has a high 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). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
History supports the rating: Pershing County has received 4 federal disaster declarations since 2005, including 2 for biological events and 1 for hurricane events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in April 2020.
Among 17 Nevada counties, Pershing County ranks #15 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Low | 0.01 / yr | $630K |
| Drought | Medium | 162.67 / yr | $522K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $247K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 3.38 / yr | $1K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $308 |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 4.63 / yr | $105K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $2 |
| Winter Weather | Low | 7.31 / yr | $16K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $7K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 17.12 / yr | $26K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.18 / yr | $718K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $6K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $1K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $547 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Pershing County has received 4 federal disaster declarations since 2005, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in April 2020. Most frequent causes: Biological (2), Hurricane (1), Snowstorm (1).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| February 2005 | Snowstorm | Snow |
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Pershing County?
Pershing County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 6.0 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 6th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Pershing County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Low, $630K EAL), Drought (Medium, $522K EAL), Earthquake (Very Low, $247K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Pershing County compare to other Nevada counties?
Pershing County ranks #15 of 17 Nevada counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Pershing County had?
FEMA records 4 federal disaster declarations for Pershing County since 2005, most often 2 for biological events and 1 for hurricane 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. Pershing County's $2M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.