Photo: Mike McBey · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Las Vegas as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Las Vegas gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #6 of 42 in Nevada. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%), then earthquakes (19%). Flood insurance has paid 121 claims here since 1978.
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 Las Vegas’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Las Vegas 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
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 Las Vegas’ grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Las Vegas, and Las Vegas’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 19% (higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts).
B #6 of 42 in Nevada; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Las Vegas’ residents live in 161 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, Las Vegas has less expected damage per building than 88% of Nevada towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Las Vegas has lower expected damage per building than 69% (#124 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $227M, is the 35th largest of those 400.
Does Las Vegas flood? Yes: 121 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Las Vegas, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Las Vegas is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Clark County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Las Vegas
Disasters that paid out in Las Vegas itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Las Vegas), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$311K to the City of Las Vegas for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Nv - Flash Flooding 7/8/99$628K to the City of Las Vegas for repairs29 flood claims paid 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 Las Vegas after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Las Vegas archive →Las Vegas and its neighbors
Las Vegas is 3rd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Las Vegas | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Sunrise Manor | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 52 |
| Las Vegas | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 121 |
| Winchester | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Spring Valley | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Summerlin South | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Paradise | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 62 |
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 Las Vegas 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.
- 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.
- Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas
Is Las Vegas at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Las Vegas has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #6 of 42 in Nevada. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and earthquakes (19%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Las Vegas flood?
Flood insurance has paid 121 claims in Las Vegas since 1978, $2.1M in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas?
Las Vegas 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.
What was the biggest storm in Las Vegas?
By FEMA money that reached Las Vegas, Nv - Flash Flooding 7/8/99 (1999): $628K to the City of Las Vegas for repairs.
Is Las Vegas at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Las Vegas’ rate for it is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Las Vegas.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Las Vegas’ 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.