Eddy County, New Mexico
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 90.7 | $36M | ||
| Strong wind | 83.2 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 78.8 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 85.2 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 55.1 | $983K | ||
| Wildfire | 88.5 | $936K | ||
| Winter weather | 95.3 | $607K | ||
| Lightning | 78.8 | $582K | ||
| Hail | 74.2 | $576K | ||
| Ice storm | 84.8 | $506K | ||
| Tornado | 27.3 | $362K | ||
| Earthquake | 26.0 | $42K | ||
| Hurricane | 24.7 | $8K | ||
| Landslide | 18.0 | $78 | ||
| Avalanche | 20.9 | $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
Most recent
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1991 | F2 | – | 21 / 0 |
| Jun 7, 1992 | F2 | – | 6 / 0 |
| Apr 30, 1976 | F2 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Mar 12, 2019 | EF2 | Malaga | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 5, 1981 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 7, 2010 | Hail | Carlsbad | $7M |
| May 31, 1991 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 3, 2004 | Flash Flood | Whites City | $2M |
| May 6, 1995 | Hail | Artesia | $2M |
| May 6, 1995 | Hail | Artesia | $2M |
| Sep 17, 2016 | Hail | Artesia | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31, 1942 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 57 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31, 1942 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 57 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lea County | 5 | |
| Otero County | 22 | |
| Chaves County | 7 | |
| Reeves County, TX | 11 | |
| Culberson County, TX | 10 | |
| Loving County, TX | 9 |
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.