Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domainLess hazard damage per building is expected in Henderson than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Henderson gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #5 of 42 in Nevada. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then wildfire (14%). Flood insurance has paid 33 claims here since 1980.
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 stands out about Henderson’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Henderson faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Wildfire
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 Henderson’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Henderson, and Henderson’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 14%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #5 of 42 in Nevada; lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Henderson’s residents live in 82 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, Henderson has less expected damage per building than 90% of Nevada towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Henderson has lower expected damage per building than 78% (#90 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $113M, is the 98th largest of those 400.
Does Henderson flood? Sometimes: 33 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Henderson, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Henderson is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Clark County.The storms Henderson remembers
None of the 6 disasters declared for Clark County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Henderson itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19808 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19847 flood claims paidThe year of Heavy Rains and Flooding, declared for Clark County
- 19974 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Clark County has had 6 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 5 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Clark County, 2002–2013.
Old photos of Henderson after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Henderson archive →Henderson and its neighbors
Henderson is 2nd of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder City | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Henderson | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Whitney | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Paradise | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 62 |
| Enterprise | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Henderson faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Henderson residents get 25% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Henderson
Is Henderson at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Henderson has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #5 of 42 in Nevada. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and wildfire (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Henderson flood?
Flood insurance has paid 33 claims in Henderson since 1980, $269K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Henderson 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 Clark County, 30% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Henderson?
Henderson is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5), which takes 25% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Henderson at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Henderson’s rate for it is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Henderson.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Henderson’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.