31 flood insurance claims·$141,900 paid
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Elko County, Nevada. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms dominates the flood profile of Elko County, accounting for 61 of the last 30 years of recorded flood events compared to 16 standard flood events.
Recent history illustrates these seasonal risks. In August 2022, heavy rains produced flooding over roadways and debris flows across multiple areas. In March 2023, atmospheric river events brought valley rain, mountain snow, and high winds, causing snowmelt and localized flooding. Later, in July and August 2024, monsoonal moisture and high temperatures combined to destabilize the atmosphere, triggering afternoon thunderstorms, heavy rain, and mudslides.
National Flood Insurance Program records show that property owners in Zone A have experienced the highest impact, accounting for 25 claims with an average payout of $8,824 and an average recorded water depth of 4 inches. Homeowners in Zone X, Zone X_UNSHADED, and Zone D have recorded significantly fewer claims, with 3 claims averaging a $3,178 payout and 1 inch of water depth in Zone X, 2 claims averaging a $0 payout and 6 inches of water depth in unshaded Zone X, and 1 claim averaging a $0 payout and 0 inches of water depth in Zone D. Property owners in Zone A should pay the most attention to flood risk in this county.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
7% of Elko County’s flood insurance claims were on properties rated outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
27 NFIP claims with a recorded rated flood zone, 1978 to date. The zone is the one FEMA used to rate that policy, which may not match today’s map. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 4 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 2017, with 15 claims and $113,942 paid, the year of Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
7 NOAA storm reports from Elko County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Nevada flood stories →
19 federal disaster declarations since 1977.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Oil Well Fire | Jul 17, 2017 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Feb 5, 2017 |
| Indian Creek Fire | Oct 3, 2011 |
| Murphy Fire Complex | Jul 21, 2007 |
| Mudd Fire | Aug 23, 2006 |
| Suzie Fire | Jun 26, 2006 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Dec 31, 2005 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Aug 29, 2005 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
77 since 1996: 61 flash floods and 16 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 4, 2024 | — |
| Flood | Apr 23, 2023 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 19, 2023 | — |
| Flood | Mar 14, 2023 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 3, 2023 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 10, 2022 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 31, 2021 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 30, 2021 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Aug 4, 2024. Excess monsoonal moisture from the late July four corners high pressure remained over Nevada in early August due to the high pressure system destabilizing, causing weak upper flow. Hot temperatures, increase in lift and instability with the excess moisture helped formed thunderstorms in the afternoons.
Flood · Apr 23, 2023. Snowmelt from warming temperatures in the 60s caused minor flooding to occur.
Flash Flood · Jul 19, 2023. Heavy rain from showers and thunderstorms caused flooding and mudslides across central and northern Nevada.
Flood · Mar 14, 2023. Another in a series of AR events brought valley rain, mountain snow, and high winds. Due to the valley rain, some snowmelt occurred leading to localized flooding.
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Elko County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.