Churchill County, NV Environment & Hazard Risk

• EarthquakeRelatively Moderate$6.72M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 29 years
• Volcanic activityRelatively Low$3,946/yr expected annual loss, about once every 769 years
• DroughtRelatively Moderate$793K/yr expected annual loss, about 144 events a year
• WildfireRelatively Low$121K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,396 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$76.76K/yr expected annual loss, about 7.3 events a year
• AvalancheVery Low$331/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years
• LandslideVery Low$645/yr expected annual loss, about 5.0 events a year
• Ice stormVery Low$25.74K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 67 years
• LightningRelatively Low$95.39K/yr expected annual loss, about 18 events a year
• Heat waveVery Low$99.82K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.6 events a year
• Strong windVery Low$80.92K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 8 years
• HailVery Low$27.25K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 20 years
• Cold waveVery Low$2/yr expected annual loss, about once every 11,533 years
• TornadoVery Low$1,963/yr expected annual loss, about once every 11 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: coastal flooding, hurricane, riverine flooding, tsunami.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

176 of 12,168 (1.5%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

655

Insured in high-risk zones

157 (24%)

Flood claims since 1978

7

Claims paid since 1978

$24.67K

• High Wind107 · 1 death
• Thunderstorm Wind35
• Dust Storm33 · 1 death
• Heavy Snow26
• Strong Wind13 · 1 death
• Winter Weather11
• Dense Fog9
• Hail9
• Heavy Rain8
• Funnel Cloud6

• Winter Storm03/08/2002

  Pershing/Churchill/X SE Washoe/Nc&ne Lyon

  2 deaths, $150K damage

  What happened

  NHP reported a multi vehicle accident resulting in two deaths. Between 4:30 and 5:00 pm, a snowstorm hit the Fernley area reducing visibility to 1/4 mile. One semi lost control and spun out on I-80 about 6 miles east of Fernley, blocking the lanes and causing other vehicles to stop. Two sedans, a pickup, and another semi were all stopped when a third semi also lost control and was unable to stop. It overturned and crushed one of the sedans, killing both occupants. The driver was a 47 year old female from Winnemucca, NV., and her passenger was a 56 year old male, also from Winnemucca. The two sedans and pickup were totalled and two of the semis had moderate damage. Damage was estimated at $150,000.

• Dust Storm11/20/2009

  Western Nevada Basin and Range

  1 death, 7 injured, $50K damage

  What happened

  The Nevada Highway Patrol reported that, at 1218PST, near zero visibility caused a large accident on westbound Interstate 80 about 20 miles east of Fernley. The accident involved 4 tractor trailer rigs, 3 pickups, and an SUV and caused one fatality along with 7 injuries. Elsewhere, there were numerous trees and power lines down as well as major damage to one house in Fernley (due to fallen tree).||Here are some high wind gusts which contributed to the dust storm: Pyramid Lake Fisheries with 60 mph at 1045PST, Silver Springs AWOS with 70 mph at 1315PST, and the Fallon ASOS with 59 mph at 1344PST.

• High Wind61 kt wind11/07/2002

  Western Nevada Basin and Range

  1 death, 6 injured, $250K damage

  What happened

  Strong wind gusts estimated at 70 mph caused near zero visibility from blowing dust on U.S Highway 95 Alternate just south of Silver Springs in Lyon County. An 11 vehicle pile-up, including one semi-trailer rig , resulted from the reduced visibility. One person was killed in the accident and five others were injured.

• Dust Storm08/03/2000

  Pershing/Churchill/X SE Washoe/Nc&ne Lyon

  15 injured, $80K damage

  What happened

  Spotter report of dust storm that reduced visibility to 1/4 mile. This storm caused a 16 car pileup that injured 15 people with an estimated damage amount of $80,000.

• Ice Storm12/21/2006

  Western Nevada Basin and Range

  1 death, $5,000 damage

  What happened

  Icy conditions along Interstate 80 in Churchill County contributed to numerous traffic accidents. A woman was killed in an accident when her automobile hit a slick section of I-80. Her car went off the road and overturned approximately 17 miles east of Fernley just inside the Churchill County line.

• Strong Wind30 kt wind05/12/2018

  Western Nevada Basin and Range

  1 death

  What happened

  A wave of rain showers passed through Pyramid Lake and brought northerly winds sustained to around 30 mph with gusts to 34 mph. A boater drowned at approximately 1030PST on 12 May when winds were determined to have peaked based on local observations near Sutcliffe along the shore of Pyramid Lake.

• High Wind54 kt wind04/21/2026

  Western Nevada Basin and Range

• Strong Wind49 kt wind04/02/2026

  Western Nevada Basin and Range

• High Wind57 kt wind03/04/2026

  Western Nevada Basin and Range

• Winter Storm02/17/2026

  Western Nevada Basin and Range

• Winter Weather01/08/2026

  Western Nevada Basin and Range

• Thunderstorm Wind51 kt wind09/03/2025

  Ocala, Churchill County

• Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind08/13/2025

  Bango, Churchill County

• Dust Storm07/31/2025

  Western Nevada Basin and Range

• Fallon City ofServes 9,184 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Fallon Naval Air StationServes 3,000 · Groundwater · FederalNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Sand CreekServes 953 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Old River Water CompanyServes 300 · Groundwater · Private5 health violations+103 monitoring or reporting
• Tolas Waterworks Co OpServes 190 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Sage Valley Mhp LLCServes 188 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Sage Valley Park AnnexServes 130 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Carson River EstatesServes 105 · Groundwater · Private2 health violations+147 monitoring or reporting