Churchill County
Nevada — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 47th
Churchill County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 47.3, 47th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and volcanic activity exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $16M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $7M |
| Volcanic Activity | Low | 0.00 / yr | $4K |
| Drought | Medium | 143.64 / yr | $793K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $121K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 7.31 / yr | $77K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.21 / yr | $7M |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $331 |
| Landslide | Very Low | 4.96 / yr | $645 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $26K |
| Lightning | Low | 18.06 / yr | $95K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 4.63 / yr | $100K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $81K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $27K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $2 |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $2K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Churchill County?
Churchill County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 47.3 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 47th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Churchill County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Medium, $7M EAL), Volcanic Activity (Low, $4K EAL), Drought (Medium, $793K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Churchill County compare to other Nevada counties?
Churchill County ranks #8 of 17 Nevada counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
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. Churchill County's $16M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.