Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Winnemucca faces more hazard damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, mostly from wildfire
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Winnemucca gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, #28 of 42 in Nevada. Most of that expected damage is wildfire (67%), then river and rain flooding (21%). Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1984.
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 Winnemucca 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 Winnemucca’s grade
Wildfire is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Winnemucca, and Winnemucca’s rate of wildfire damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 21% (lower than 77% of U.S. census tracts).
D #28 of 42 in Nevada; higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Winnemucca’s residents live in 5 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, Winnemucca has more expected damage per building than 66% of Nevada towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.8M a year in losses across Winnemucca: $4.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Winnemucca flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Winnemucca, from FEMA’s records: 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Winnemucca isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Humboldt County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Winnemucca
Disasters that paid out in Winnemucca itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Winnemucca), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2005Snow$9K to the City of Winnemucca for repairs
- 2004Record And/or Near Record Snow$8K to the City of Winnemucca for repairs
Humboldt County has had 5 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.
Old photos of Winnemucca after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Winnemucca archive →Get ready for what Winnemucca 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 Winnemucca
Is Winnemucca at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Winnemucca has higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #28 of 42 in Nevada. Most of the expected damage is wildfire (67%) and river and rain flooding (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Winnemucca flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Winnemucca since 1984, $63K in all, or 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Winnemucca 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 Humboldt County, 6% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Winnemucca?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Winnemucca’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 Winnemucca?
By FEMA money that reached Winnemucca, Snow (2005): $9K to the City of Winnemucca for repairs.
Is Winnemucca at risk from wildfire?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Winnemucca’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Winnemucca.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Winnemucca’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.