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Reno, NV · Washoe County

Water Risk Profile — ZIP 89501

Flood risk, local cost data, climate factors, and insurance context for your ZIP code.

Flood Risk

High

Cost Range

$2,400–$14,500

Avg Response

42 min

NFIP

State participates

Local Climate & Risk Factors

Reno sits in the Truckee River valley — a historically flood-prone corridor. The January 1997 flood caused $500M+ in damage across the region. Winter atmospheric rivers bring rapid snowmelt flooding; the river can rise 20+ feet in 48 hours. Older downtown properties and Midtown have significant basement flooding risk. High elevation (4,505 ft) means freeze-thaw pipe cycles are a major January–March concern. Spring snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada creates predictable annual flood risk in lower-lying areas.

Flood-prone areas: Riverwalk and Downtown are highest-risk for river flooding. South Reno and Damonte Ranch on higher ground have lower river flood risk but higher freeze-pipe risk. Sparks (adjacent) shares the same flood risk profile.

Insurance tip: Reno properties in the Truckee River 100-year floodplain (Zone AE) require NFIP flood insurance for federally-backed mortgages. Over 3,000 Reno homes are in mapped floodplain. Even outside Zone AE, atmospheric river events cause flooding — flood insurance is strongly recommended.

Water Category Cost Table — Reno, NV

Extraction & drying cost per square foot by IICRC water category

Water Category$/sq ft
Category 1 — Clean

Burst supply line, clean appliance overflow

$4.08–$11.3
Category 2 — Gray

Dishwasher, washing machine, toilet bowl (no feces)

$11.3–$13.68
Category 3 — Black

Sewage backup, floodwater, toilet overflow with feces

$16.07–$20.9

Estimates exclude reconstruction (drywall, flooring replacement). National benchmarks: Cat 1 $3.75–$4.25, Cat 2 $4.10–$6.50, Cat 3 $7–$7.50/sq ft — adjusted for Reno market (4.819/sq ft range).

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