Photo: Rmvisuals · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Spring Valley as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Spring Valley gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #9 of 42 in Nevada. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%), then earthquakes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 18 claims here since 1979.
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 Spring Valley 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 Spring Valley’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Spring Valley, and Spring Valley’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 12% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #9 of 42 in Nevada; higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Spring Valley’s residents live in 54 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, Spring Valley has less expected damage per building than 80% of Nevada towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Spring Valley has lower expected damage per building than 56% (#176 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $74.6M, is the 161th largest of those 400.
Does Spring Valley flood? Sometimes: 18 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Spring Valley, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Spring Valley isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Clark County.The storms Spring Valley remembers
None of the 6 disasters declared for Clark County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Spring Valley itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20145 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19842 flood claims paidThe year of Heavy Rains and Flooding, declared for Clark County
- 20152 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 Spring Valley after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Spring Valley archive →Spring Valley and its neighbors
Spring Valley 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 121 |
| 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 |
| 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 Spring Valley 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 Spring Valley
Is Spring Valley at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Spring Valley has higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #9 of 42 in Nevada. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and earthquakes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Spring Valley flood?
Flood insurance has paid 18 claims in Spring Valley since 1979, $219K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Spring Valley 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 Spring Valley?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Spring Valley’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Spring Valley at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Spring Valley’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Spring Valley.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Spring Valley’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.