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Carson City, NV Flood Zone Map

Last updated: August 2026

Carson City faces flooding from the Carson River and Eagle Valley creek system. Snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada and intense rainfall events drive flood risk in the state capital.

Carson City County has recorded 91 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $559K in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.

FEMA Region

Region 9

NFIP Policies

247

Carson City County

Avg. Premium

$694/yr

Carson City County

Active NFIP Policies: Carson City County

Carson City County had 247 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $694, totaling $171K in annual premiums. Because a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice, this runs above the number in force at any one moment.

Average Annual Premium

Carson City County$694
National Average$915

Policies by Flood Zone

Zone X
109(avg. $629/yr)
Zone AO
88(avg. $741/yr)
Zone AH
25(avg. $744/yr)
Zone AE
17(avg. $829/yr)
Zone A
7(avg. $661/yr)

Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Policies API. Reflects policies with an effective date in the trailing 13 months (July 1, 2025 through August 16, 2026) - a 12-month policy term plus a 1-month buffer for OpenFEMA's own reporting lag - as an approximation of currently active policies, not a certified point-in-time count. Policies renewed early in this window may be counted twice, so actual totals may be somewhat lower than shown. See national policies data.

See the full flood insurance cost guide for how premiums vary by zone and risk factor.

NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Carson City County

Properties in Carson City County have filed 91 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $559K in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $6K.

Highest-Claim Years

1997

26 claims - $176K

1986

16 claims - $18K

2005

7 claims - $168K

Claims by Flood Zone

Zone X
29(avg. $4K)
Zone AE
15(avg. $12K)
Zone A
13(avg. $13K)
Zone AH
5(avg. $2K)
Zone AO
4(avg. $18K)

Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.

Flood Insurance Coverage: Carson City County

Only roughly 1 in 94 households in Carson City County carries NFIP flood insurance (1% of estimated households). With 4 recorded flood events and $4.7M in damage, most flood losses in this county are likely uninsured.

Penetration Rate

1%

roughly 1 in 94 households

Historical Claims Ratio

1 in 3

91 claims over 45+ years across 247 current policies

Avg. Claim Payout

$6,143

Per claim, county-wide since 1978

Historically, Carson City County has averaged 1 claim for every 3 active policies (since 1978). This compares cumulative claims against today's policy count and does not predict future claim likelihood.

Coverage data: NFIP policies as of August 2026, claims since 1978 (August 2026), population from FEMA NRI. All figures are county-wide and include Carson City.

Not sure whether you're required to carry it? See do I need flood insurance?, or compare NFIP vs. private flood insurance.

Repetitive Loss Properties: Carson City County

Carson City County has 4 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 0 severe repetitive loss properties. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced August 2026.

Multiple Loss

4

2+ claims within 10 years

Severe Repetitive Loss

0

4+ claims or 2 exceeding value

Mitigated

0

Received FEMA mitigation

By Flood Zone

Zone AE
1
Zone X
1
Zone AO
1

Zone data available for 3 of 4 properties.

Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.

Flood Insurance Discount: Carson City

Carson City participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for flood mitigation efforts beyond minimum NFIP requirements. Residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area may qualify for reduced flood insurance premiums.

CRS Class

Class 6

SFHA Premium Discount

20% off

CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Carson City's Class 6 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 20% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.

Source: FEMA Community Rating System, April 2026. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.

Federal Flood Disaster History: Carson City County

Carson City County has been included in 2 federal flood-related disaster declarations.

2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane
1986Severe Storms & FloodingFlood

These declarations affected communities across Carson City County, including Carson City.

Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.

Recorded Flood Events: Carson City (c) County

NOAA has recorded 4 flood events in Carson City (c) County since 1996, causing $4.7M in damage.

Costliest Events

December 31, 2005Flood$3.4M
January 1, 2006Flood$1.2M
July 20, 2014Flash Flood$50K
July 20, 2014Flash Flood$10K

Events by Type

Flood
2
Flash Flood
2

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.

FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Carson City County

Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.

Inland Flood Risk

Relatively Low

Est. annual loss: $6.8M

Social Vulnerability: Relatively Low
Community Resilience: Very Low

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.

What Your Flood Zone Means in Carson City

Carson City faces flood risk primarily from river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or upstream dam releases. When rivers exceed their banks, floodwaters spread across low-lying areas mapped in AE and A zones. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Carson City are Zone AE, Zone A, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $6.8M.

Riverine flood risk in Carson City is driven by the proximity and elevation of properties relative to nearby waterways. Properties closer to rivers with lower ground elevations typically face higher flood insurance premiums under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.

River flood maps can change when FEMA conducts new Flood Insurance Studies or when development alters drainage patterns. Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) can remove individual properties if the natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and the property was inadvertently mapped in the SFHA. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Carson City address.

Carson City, NV Flood Zone FAQ

What flood zones are in Carson City, NV?

The most common FEMA flood zones in Carson City are Zone AE, Zone A, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.

Is flood insurance required in Carson City?

If your Carson City property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since about a quarter of all NFIP flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones.

How do I check my flood zone in Carson City?

Enter your Carson City address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.

Does Carson City offer flood insurance discounts?

Yes. Carson City participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 6 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 20% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.

Has Carson City experienced major flooding events?

Carson City County, where Carson City is located, has been part of 2 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in 2005. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.

How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Carson City?

Carson City County has recorded 91 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $559K in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 1997, with 26 claims and $176K in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Carson City.

How many flood insurance policies are there in Carson City?

Carson City County had 247 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $694. The most policies are in Zone X (109 policies). These are county-level counts of policies written or renewed in the trailing 13 months, not a point-in-time count of policies in force - a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice.

How many Carson City properties have flooded repeatedly?

Carson City County has 4 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 0 severe repetitive loss properties. These are properties that have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000+ or two claims exceeding the building value.

Can my Carson City property be removed from a high-risk flood zone?

Yes, if your property's natural ground elevation is above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in a high-risk zone, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). A successful LOMA removes the property from the Special Flood Hazard Area, generally eliminating the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement. You will need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor. If a property was raised above the BFE with fill material, the process is a LOMR-F rather than a LOMA.

What is Base Flood Elevation in Carson City?

Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the predicted height of floodwaters during a 1% annual chance (100-year) flood, shown on FEMA maps as an elevation number in feet above sea level. In Carson City's Zone AE areas, BFE lines appear on the FIRM as wavy contours labeled with elevation values. Properties with a lowest floor at or above the BFE typically qualify for significantly lower NFIP flood insurance premiums.

See the Flood Map for Any Carson City, NV Address

Enter a Carson City, NV address to view its FEMA flood map, zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.

Disclaimer: Flood risk data on this page is sourced from FEMA datasets including the National Risk Index, NFIP claims and policy records, disaster declarations, and the Community Rating System. These datasets were last extracted on August 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.