FEMA rates relative riverine flooding risk for Washoe County as very high and reports FEMA annualized frequency of 1.375 per year for the area.
FEMA summary
FEMA's profile for Washoe County reports FEMA annualized frequency of 1.375 per year for riverine flooding. FEMA's relative risk rating for the area is very high; the annualized frequency is a separate measure.
Hazard metrics cover FEMA county-equivalent geographies rather than individual addresses or parcels. Use local or state hazard maps before making a property, insurance, retrofit, or evacuation decision.
Select a hazard to inspect FEMA's figures for Washoe County.
Riverine Flooding
FEMA combines its area-wide loss estimate and community data in this relative rating. Event frequency appears separately below.
Relative FEMA score
99.7/100
Occurrence thresholds vary by hazard. The FEMA methodology defines the value for each hazard.
The area loss estimate combines FEMA's modeled losses to buildings, population, and agriculture across Washoe County. It is not an estimate for a home or address.
City risk summary
For Sparks, FEMA rates riverine flooding risk for Washoe County as very high, with a relative score of 99.7/100. The next highest relative scores are earthquake at 99.4/100 and wildfire at 97.6/100.
Using FEMA data for Washoe County, Sparks is tied #1 among 9 covered Nevada entries for riverine flooding risk; 2 entries share that score. Reno is about 7.2 straight-line miles from the Sparks map point and uses the same FEMA geography.
For homeowners and movers
Preparedness actions
Living in Sparks? Learn how to handle water storage, sanitation, and security in a small space.
The map shows Sparks. All FEMA figures on this page cover Washoe County.
The FEMA figures cover Washoe County. Address-level conditions require local maps, building records, and property details.
FEMA rates relative riverine flooding risk for Washoe County as very high. Its FEMA annualized frequency is 1.375 per year. Damage at a specific address also depends on the building, soil, elevation, and exact hazard zone.
Among 9 Nevada cities covered by this directory, Sparks is Tied #1 for relative riverine flooding risk based on FEMA's score for Washoe County. 2 covered cities share this rank because they use the same FEMA geography. Homes within Sparks can have different soil, elevation, construction, and hazard-zone conditions.
In FEMA's data for Washoe County, the highest relative ratings are Riverine Flooding (Very High), Earthquake (Relatively High), and Wildfire (Relatively High). FEMA uses estimated losses and community data along with event frequency when assigning these ratings.
The hazard numbers cover Washoe County. For an individual home, check local fault, flood, fire, evacuation, and building records for the exact address.
FEMA gives Washoe County an overall relative risk rating of relatively high. Conditions at a specific home depend on its hazard zones, building type, maintenance, insurance, and access to evacuation routes and emergency services.
Start with this step: Confirm the exact hazard using official local maps before making property or insurance decisions. Know how local officials issue warnings and evacuation instructions. Use Ready.gov Be Informed and local emergency guidance for a complete plan.
Distances are measured between city coordinates.
| City | Distance | Riverine Flooding rating | Relative score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reno, NV | 7 mi | Very High | 99.7 |
| Folsom, CA | 99 mi | Relatively Moderate | 75.4 |
Limited to products tagged for riverine flooding or general preparedness.
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View productHazard metrics come from FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 (March 2023). City population and coordinates come from SimpleMaps US Cities Database. For current conditions, use official local maps, warnings, inspections, and professional advice.