Home › New Mexico › Eddy County

Eddy County, New Mexico

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
9th of 33highest risk in New Mexico
$44Mexpected losses a year
9federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Eddy County, New Mexico has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 84% of US counties. It ranks 9th of 33 counties in New Mexico. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $44 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $705 per resident. Since 1984 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2014 (severe storms and flooding). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (235 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $333,000 on 51 claims here.

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

Top risks in Eddy County

$35.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate90.7
$36M
Strong windModerate83.2
$1M
Heat waveLow78.8
$1M
DroughtModerate85.2
$1M
Cold waveLow55.1
$983K
WildfireLow88.5
$936K
Winter weatherHigh95.3
$607K
LightningModerate78.8
$582K
HailModerate74.2
$576K
Ice stormHigh84.8
$506K
TornadoLow27.3
$362K
EarthquakeVery Low26.0
$42K
HurricaneVery Low24.7
$8K
LandslideVery Low18.0
$78
AvalancheVery Low20.9
$33

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 Eddy County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm3
Fire3
Flood2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Oct 29, 2014Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 2, 2006Southeast New Mexico Fire ComplexFire management
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 29, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 13, 2000Severe Forest FireMajor disaster
May 10, 2000Severe Fire ThreatsEmergency
Jan 29, 1998Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 6, 1984Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 1,073 storm reports in Eddy County since 1958, with 5 deaths and 48 injuries and about $22.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 31, 1991.

59tornadoes
549hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
225damaging thunderstorm winds
233floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 31, 1991F2–21 / 0
Jun 7, 1992F2–6 / 0
Apr 30, 1976F2–2 / 0
Mar 12, 2019EF2Malaga0 / 0
Jul 5, 1981F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 7, 2010HailCarlsbad$7M
May 31, 1991Tornado–$3M
Apr 3, 2004Flash FloodWhites City$2M
May 6, 1995HailArtesia$2M
May 6, 1995HailArtesia$2M
Sep 17, 2016HailArtesia$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 28, 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 1942, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Eddy County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1942, with top winds near 40 mph about 57 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1942most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 31, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 31, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph57 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 Eddy County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (235 policies)
11.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$332,647paid on 51 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $136,980 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 Eddy County

$212,600median home value (New Mexico $248,100, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (New Mexico 1985, US 1980)
50%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.6%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; 26,839 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
Lea CountyModerate5
Otero CountyModerate22
Chaves CountyModerate7
Reeves County, TXVery Low11
Culberson County, TXVery Low10
Loving County, TXVery Low9

Cities in Eddy County

Common questions about Eddy County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Eddy County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Eddy County, about $35.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $1.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Eddy County had?

Eddy County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1984, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in October 2014.

Is Eddy County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 9th 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 Eddy County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Eddy 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 Eddy County had?

NOAA records list 59 tornadoes in Eddy County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 31, 1991. The weather service has also logged 549 hail reports and 233 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Eddy County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Eddy County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1942, with winds near 40 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.