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De Baca County, New Mexico

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

Very Low overall risk
31st of 33highest risk in New Mexico
$2Mexpected losses a year
5federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

De Baca County, New Mexico has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 96% of US counties. It ranks 31st of 33 counties in New Mexico. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $2.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,377 per resident. Since 1998 it has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2013 (severe storms, flooding and mudslides). Only 1 home here carries federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in De Baca County

$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.

Drought

Moderate
$707,091 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 115 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$259,572 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 195 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 floodingVery Low11.5
$1M
DroughtModerate78.9
$707K
WildfireLow77.4
$260K
Strong windVery Low5.7
$31K
Cold waveVery Low6.9
$31K
Heat waveVery Low13.8
$25K
HailVery Low9.4
$23K
Winter weatherVery Low23.1
$17K
LightningVery Low6.4
$17K
TornadoVery Low3.9
$10K
EarthquakeVery Low4.0
$3K
Ice stormVery Low3.2
$1K
LandslideVery Low9.0
$18
Volcanic activityVery Low22.1
$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 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 De Baca County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire2
Severe Storm1
Hurricane1
Flood1

Most recent

Oct 29, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 13, 2000Severe Forest FireMajor disaster
May 10, 2000Severe Fire ThreatsEmergency
Jan 29, 1998Severe Winter StormMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1970

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 246 storm reports in De Baca County since 1970 and about $917,500 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on September 2, 1993 near Fort Sumner.

11tornadoes
144hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
66damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 2, 1993F1Fort Sumner0 / 0
Jun 1, 1989F1–0 / 0
Jun 1, 1989F1–0 / 0
Mar 5, 1971F0–0 / 0
May 29, 1990F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 20, 2015Thunderstorm WindChilili$250K
Jun 20, 2002HailFt Sumner$150K
Jun 20, 2002HailFt Sumner$100K
May 26, 2019Thunderstorm WindFt Sumner$100K
Sep 2, 1993TornadoFort Sumner$55K
May 22, 2015Flash FloodTaiban$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 31, 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 De Baca County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (1 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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 De Baca County

$187,500median home value (New Mexico $248,100, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (New Mexico 1985, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
20.4%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; 1,260 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
Chaves CountyModerate7
Lincoln CountyLow33
Roosevelt CountyModerate5
Quay CountyVery Low5
Guadalupe CountyVery Low7

Common questions about De Baca County

What is the biggest natural hazard in De Baca County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in De Baca County, about $1.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $707,091.

How many federal disasters has De Baca County had?

De Baca County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1998, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides in October 2013.

Is De Baca County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 31st 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 De Baca County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in De Baca 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 De Baca County had?

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in De Baca County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on September 2, 1993 near Fort Sumner. The weather service has also logged 144 hail reports and 22 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.