De Baca County, New Mexico
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 11.5 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 78.9 | $707K | ||
| Wildfire | 77.4 | $260K | ||
| Strong wind | 5.7 | $31K | ||
| Cold wave | 6.9 | $31K | ||
| Heat wave | 13.8 | $25K | ||
| Hail | 9.4 | $23K | ||
| Winter weather | 23.1 | $17K | ||
| Lightning | 6.4 | $17K | ||
| Tornado | 3.9 | $10K | ||
| Earthquake | 4.0 | $3K | ||
| Ice storm | 3.2 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 9.0 | $18 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 22.1 | $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
Most recent
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2, 1993 | F1 | Fort Sumner | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 1, 1989 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 1, 1989 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 5, 1971 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 29, 1990 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 20, 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Chilili | $250K |
| Jun 20, 2002 | Hail | Ft Sumner | $150K |
| Jun 20, 2002 | Hail | Ft Sumner | $100K |
| May 26, 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ft Sumner | $100K |
| Sep 2, 1993 | Tornado | Fort Sumner | $55K |
| May 22, 2015 | Flash Flood | Taiban | $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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Bernalillo County | Inland flooding | |
| Doña Ana County | Inland flooding | |
| Santa Fe County | Inland flooding | |
| Sandoval County | Inland flooding | |
| San Juan County | Inland flooding | |
| Valencia County | Inland flooding | |
| Lea County | Inland flooding | |
| McKinley County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Chaves County | 7 | |
| Lincoln County | 33 | |
| Roosevelt County | 5 | |
| Quay County | 5 | |
| Guadalupe County | 7 |
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.