Nevada natural disasters & FEMA declarations
NV · 12th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Nevada has had 110 federally declared disasters since 1954, the 12th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Fire (84 declarations, about 76% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Peavine Fire" (Fire), on Aug 2, 2025. The largest recorded earthquake in or near Nevada was magnitude 7.1.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Nevada, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Fire | 84 | 76% |
| Flood | 12 | 11% |
| Severe Storm | 7 | 6% |
| Biological | 2 | 2% |
| Snowstorm | 2 | 2% |
| Hurricane | 1 | 1% |
| Drought | 1 | 1% |
| Earthquake | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 83 |
| Major Disaster (DR) | 22 |
| Emergency (EM) | 5 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Nevada's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 4 |
| 1960s | 4 |
| 1970s | 2 |
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 12 |
| 2000s | 41 |
| 2010s | 21 |
| 2020s | 21 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2, 2025 | Peavine Fire | Fire | FM-5602-NV |
| Jun 20, 2025 | Conner Fire | Fire | FM-5592-NV |
| Jun 10, 2025 | Marie Fire | Fire | FM-5586-NV |
| Nov 11, 2024 | Callahan Fire | Fire | FM-5546-NV |
| Sep 7, 2024 | Davis Fire | Fire | FM-5533-NV |
| Aug 12, 2024 | Gold Ranch Fire | Fire | FM-5530-NV |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Nevada
The strongest magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes attributed to Nevada in the USGS catalog (1900–present). Locations are matched from the USGS event description.
| Magnitude | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| M7.1 | Dec 16, 1954 | The 1954 Fairview Peak, Nevada Earthquake |
| M6.9 | Dec 16, 1954 | The 1954 Dixie Valley, Nevada Earthquake |
| M6.8 | Oct 3, 1915 | The 1915 Pleasant Valley, Nevada Earthquake |
Source: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Data as of June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Nevada had?
Nevada has had 110 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1954, the 12th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Nevada?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Nevada is "Fire", with 84 declarations — about 76% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Nevada?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Nevada in this snapshot was "Peavine Fire" (Fire), declared Aug 2, 2025.
What is the biggest earthquake recorded in Nevada?
The largest earthquake in or near Nevada in the USGS magnitude-6.0+ catalog is a magnitude 7.1 event on Dec 16, 1954 (The 1954 Fairview Peak, Nevada Earthquake).
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18