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Doña Ana County, New Mexico

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

Relatively High overall risk
1st of 33highest risk in New Mexico
$164Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 83homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Doña Ana County, New Mexico has a relatively high overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 96% of US counties. It ranks 1st of 33 counties in New Mexico. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $164 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $747 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2025 (severe storms, flooding and landslides). About 1 in 83 homes here carry federal flood insurance (947 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.9 million on 208 claims here, including $3.9 million for floods in 2006.

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

Top risks in Doña Ana County

$133 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times 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.
$10.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 74 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Earthquake

Moderate
$4.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 660 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingHigh98.4
$133M
DroughtHigh99.4
$11M
EarthquakeModerate91.2
$5M
Heat waveModerate94.6
$4M
Cold waveModerate82.0
$3M
HailHigh96.1
$3M
LightningVery High97.3
$2M
Winter weatherVery High97.4
$828K
WildfireLow86.6
$643K
Strong windModerate58.0
$530K
TornadoVery Low20.5
$189K
Ice stormModerate64.8
$127K
HurricaneVery Low36.5
$18K
LandslideVery Low40.8
$538
AvalancheVery Low38.6
$182

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 Doña Ana County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood3
Severe Storm2
Fire2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 22, 2025Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 13, 2000Severe Forest FireMajor disaster
May 10, 2000Severe Fire ThreatsEmergency
Sep 22, 1999Severe Ice Storms, Flooding and Heavy RainsMajor disaster
Sep 20, 1972Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 376 storm reports in Doña Ana County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 7 injuries and about $30.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on July 31, 1979.

13tornadoes
117hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
128damaging thunderstorm winds
103floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 31, 1979F1–0 / 0
Jul 29, 1959F1–0 / 0
Jul 28, 1989F1–0 / 0
Jul 22, 1987F0–0 / 0
Sep 7, 1966F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 13, 2006HailMesilla$11M
Aug 15, 2006Flash FloodHatch$5M
Jun 7, 1997HailLas Cruces$4M
Aug 1, 2006Flash FloodSouth Portion$3M
Apr 3, 2004HailAnthony$2M
Jun 3, 2004HailLas Cruces Arpt$1M

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.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1929, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Doña Ana County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1929, with top winds near 45 mph about 43 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1929most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph43 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 29, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph43 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Doña Ana County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (947 policies)
15.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.9 millionpaid on 208 flood claims since 1978
2006costliest year, with $3.9 million 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 Doña Ana County

$220,800median home value (New Mexico $248,100, US $332,700)
1991median year homes were built (New Mexico 1985, US 1980)
32%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
19%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; 92,436 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
El Paso County, TXHigh13
Otero CountyModerate22
Luna CountyLow5
Sierra CountyLow11

Cities in Doña Ana County

Common questions about Doña Ana County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Doña Ana County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Doña Ana County, about $133 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $10.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Doña Ana County had?

Doña Ana County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides in July 2025.

Is Doña Ana County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively High, 1st 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 Doña Ana County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 83 homes in Doña Ana 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 Doña Ana County had?

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Doña Ana County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on July 31, 1979. The weather service has also logged 117 hail reports and 103 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Doña Ana County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Doña Ana County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1929, with winds near 45 mph.

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.