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Cibola County, New Mexico

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
21st of 33highest risk in New Mexico
$11Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Cibola County, New Mexico has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 58% of US counties. It ranks 21st of 33 counties in New Mexico. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and lightning. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $424 per resident. Since 2000 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (severe storms and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (62 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $611,000 on 28 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Cibola County

$8.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$996,117 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 20 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$769,046 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 61 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate73.4
$9M
Cold waveLow65.4
$996K
LightningHigh91.8
$769K
EarthquakeLow70.7
$475K
WildfireLow83.1
$332K
Winter weatherModerate79.1
$113K
Heat waveVery Low22.8
$45K
HailVery Low20.5
$42K
TornadoVery Low9.0
$31K
Strong windVery Low6.9
$27K
LandslideLow84.2
$15K
DroughtVery Low25.3
$8K
Ice stormVery Low7.9
$2K
Volcanic activityVery Low69.1
$54
AvalancheVery Low24.4
$35

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Cibola County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood4
Fire2
Hurricane1
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Oct 26, 2026Severe Storms and FloodingEmergency
Oct 29, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Nov 23, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 13, 2000Severe Forest FireMajor disaster
May 10, 2000Severe Fire ThreatsEmergency

New Mexico also had 42 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1964

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 90 storm reports in Cibola County since 1964, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF0 tornado on September 30, 2017 near Correo.

2tornadoes
33hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
14damaging thunderstorm winds
39floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 30, 2017EF0Correo0 / 0
Jun 3, 2018EF0Acoma Pueblo0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 13, 2013FloodGrants Muni Airport$500K
Sep 12, 2013FloodCorreo$250K
Jul 4, 2015Flash FloodEl Morro$250K
Oct 4, 2015Flash FloodGrants$250K
Aug 24, 2011Flash FloodMc Cartys$200K
Sep 20, 1997Heavy RainGrants$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 22, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Cibola County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (62 policies)
7.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$610,565paid on 28 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $279,836 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Cibola County

$125,400median home value (New Mexico $248,100, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (New Mexico 1985, US 1980)
56%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
23.8%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 11,236 housing units.

Compare in New Mexico

All 33 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Bernalillo CountyHighInland flooding
Doña Ana CountyHighInland flooding
Santa Fe CountyModerateInland flooding
Sandoval CountyLowInland flooding
San Juan CountyModerateInland flooding
Valencia CountyModerateInland flooding
Lea CountyModerateInland flooding
McKinley CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Bernalillo CountyHigh9
Sandoval CountyLow20
Valencia CountyModerate13
McKinley CountyLow9
Apache County, AZLow14
Socorro CountyLow10
Catron CountyVery Low10

Common questions about Cibola County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Cibola County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Cibola County, about $8.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $996,117.

How many federal disasters has Cibola County had?

Cibola County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2000, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in October 2026.

Is Cibola County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 21st highest of 33 in New Mexico. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Cibola County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Cibola County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Cibola County had?

NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Cibola County since 1950. The strongest was an EF0 tornado on September 30, 2017 near Correo. The weather service has also logged 33 hail reports and 39 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.