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Curry County, New Mexico

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

Relatively Low overall risk
18th of 33highest risk in New Mexico
$21Mexpected losses a year
4federal declarations
1 in 100homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Curry County, New Mexico has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 62% of US counties. It ranks 18th of 33 counties in New Mexico. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $21 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $440 per resident. Since 2000 it has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (1 major disaster). The most recent was in April 2011 (Tire Fire). About 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (175 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $563,000 on 56 claims here.

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

Top risks in Curry County

$6.7 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.
$4.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 104 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Wildfire

Moderate
$4.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 115 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow52.5
$7M
DroughtHigh98.0
$4M
WildfireModerate95.7
$4M
TornadoLow58.9
$2M
HailModerate88.5
$1M
Cold waveLow43.3
$706K
Winter weatherHigh95.4
$678K
Strong windModerate57.5
$644K
Heat waveLow63.1
$634K
LightningModerate57.8
$294K
EarthquakeVery Low32.4
$90K
Ice stormLow35.5
$41K
LandslideVery Low4.0
$5
Volcanic activityVery Low18.9
$0

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 relatively moderate 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 Curry County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire2
Hurricane1
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Apr 17, 2011Tire FireFire management
Apr 2, 2007Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 10, 2000Severe Fire ThreatsEmergency

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 642 storm reports in Curry County since 1955, with 2 deaths and 41 injuries and about $28.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on March 23, 2007 near Clovis Hillcrest Arp.

55tornadoes
342hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
198damaging thunderstorm winds
33floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 23, 2007EF2Clovis Hillcrest Arp33 / 2
May 24, 1957F2–0 / 0
Jun 11, 1964F2–0 / 0
Dec 27, 2019EF1Ranchvale0 / 0
Jun 27, 1992F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 23, 2007TornadoClovis Hillcrest Arp$17M
May 4, 2015Flash FloodRanchvale$3M
May 6, 1995Thunderstorm Wind–$2M
Jun 12, 2010HailClovis$1M
May 24, 2023Thunderstorm WindCannon AFB$1M
May 6, 1995HailClovis$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 26, 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 Curry County

Check your address flood zone ›
1%of homes have federal flood insurance (175 policies)
17%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$562,922paid on 56 flood claims since 1978
2014costliest year, with $241,770 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 Curry County

$171,200median home value (New Mexico $248,100, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (New Mexico 1985, US 1980)
57%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.8%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; 21,426 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
Roosevelt CountyModerate5
Deaf Smith County, TXLow13
Parmer County, TXModerate13
Quay CountyVery Low5
Bailey County, TXVery Low14

Cities in Curry County

Common questions about Curry County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Curry County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Curry County, about $6.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $4.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Curry County had?

Curry County has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2000, including 1 major disaster. The most recent was Tire Fire in April 2011.

Is Curry County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 18th 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 Curry County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 100 homes in Curry 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 Curry County had?

NOAA records list 55 tornadoes in Curry County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on March 23, 2007 near Clovis Hillcrest Arp. The weather service has also logged 342 hail reports and 33 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.