Photo: formulanone · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Pahrump faces more hazard damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pahrump gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #16 of 42 in Nevada. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%), then earthquakes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 16 claims here since 2006.
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 Pahrump 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 Pahrump’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pahrump, and Pahrump’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 16% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
C #16 of 42 in Nevada; higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Pahrump’s residents live in 11 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, Pahrump has less expected damage per building than 63% of Nevada towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $20.0M a year in losses across Pahrump: $12.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Pahrump flood? Sometimes: 16 flood claims since 2006
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pahrump, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Hilary4 claims · $235K
Pahrump isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Nye County.The storms Pahrump remembers
None of the 2 disasters declared for Nye County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Pahrump itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20215 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20235 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20222 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Nye County has had 2 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Pahrump after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pahrump archive →Get ready for what Pahrump 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Pahrump
Is Pahrump at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pahrump has higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #16 of 42 in Nevada. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and earthquakes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Pahrump flood?
Flood insurance has paid 16 claims in Pahrump since 2006, $569K in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Hilary (4).
Is Pahrump 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 Nye County, 41% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 13.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Pahrump?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Pahrump’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Pahrump?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Hilary: 4 paid, $235K.
Is Pahrump at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Pahrump’s rate for it is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pahrump.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pahrump’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.