Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Battle Mountain’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from wildfire
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Battle Mountain gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #23 of 42 in Nevada. Most of that expected damage is wildfire (54%), then river and rain flooding (33%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Battle Mountain faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Wildfire
River and rain flooding
Earthquakes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Battle Mountain’s grade
Wildfire is 54% of the building damage FEMA expects in Battle Mountain, and Battle Mountain’s rate of wildfire damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 33% (lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #23 of 42 in Nevada; higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Battle Mountain’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Nevada town has higher expected damage than 81% of U.S. towns; within the state, Battle Mountain has more expected damage per building than 54% of Nevada towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Battle Mountain: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Battle Mountain flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Battle Mountain. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Battle Mountain isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lander County.The storms Battle Mountain remembers
None of the 3 disasters declared for Lander County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Battle Mountain itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Lander County has had 3 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Get ready for what Battle Mountain faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Battle Mountain
Is Battle Mountain at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Battle Mountain has higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #23 of 42 in Nevada. Most of the expected damage is wildfire (54%) and river and rain flooding (33%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Battle Mountain in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Lander County, 11% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Battle Mountain?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Battle Mountain’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Battle Mountain at risk from wildfire?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (54%), and Battle Mountain’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Battle Mountain.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Battle Mountain’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.