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Grant County, New Mexico

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

Relatively Low overall risk
17th of 33highest risk in New Mexico
$21Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Grant County, New Mexico has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 74% of US counties. It ranks 17th of 33 counties in New Mexico. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and lightning. FEMA estimates about $21 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $741 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2025 (Trout Fire). Only 42 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Grant County

$14.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$4.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 170 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.

Lightning

Moderate
$445,513 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 65 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate83.7
$15M
WildfireModerate96.9
$5M
LightningModerate79.4
$446K
Heat waveLow58.3
$343K
EarthquakeVery Low50.4
$179K
Winter weatherModerate82.5
$151K
HailVery Low26.5
$64K
DroughtLow38.5
$37K
TornadoVery Low6.9
$22K
Strong windVery Low3.8
$14K
Ice stormVery Low16.5
$7K
LandslideLow70.9
$4K
Cold waveVery Low3.6
$3K
HurricaneVery Low7.9
$692
AvalancheVery Low49.1
$320

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 very 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 Grant County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood5
Fire4
Hurricane1
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Jun 16, 2025Trout FireFire management
May 26, 2012Whitewater-Baldy Fire ComplexFire management
Mar 8, 2011Quail Ridge FireFire management
Aug 30, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 10, 2000Severe Fire ThreatsEmergency
Jun 7, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 18, 1985Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 24, 1983Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 29, 1979FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 11
Nov 20, 1972Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 174 storm reports in Grant County since 1957, with 2 deaths and 0 injuries and about $2.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on October 12, 1957.

7tornadoes
58hail reports, largest 2 inches
27damaging thunderstorm winds
71floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 12, 1957F3–0 / 0
Aug 19, 1979F1–0 / 0
Jun 15, 1967F1–0 / 0
Aug 13, 1989F1–0 / 0
Jul 31, 1979F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 11, 2002HailSilver City$1M
Oct 12, 1957Tornado–$250K
Aug 19, 1979Tornado–$250K
Aug 28, 2001HailSilver City$160K
Jul 20, 1999Flash FloodSepar$100K
Jul 28, 2006Flash FloodSilver City$80K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 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 Grant County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1929, with top winds near 45 mph about 63 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 30, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 30, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 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 Grant County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (42 policies)
4.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$114,115paid on 9 flood claims since 1978
2006costliest year, with $49,761 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 Grant County

$175,600median home value (New Mexico $248,100, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (New Mexico 1985, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
25.1%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; 14,755 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
Luna CountyLow5
Sierra CountyLow11
Greenlee County, AZVery Low11
Hidalgo CountyVery Low8
Catron CountyVery Low10

Common questions about Grant County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Grant County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Grant County, about $14.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $4.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Grant County had?

Grant County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Trout Fire in June 2025.

Is Grant County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 17th 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 Grant County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Grant 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 Grant County had?

NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Grant County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on October 12, 1957. The weather service has also logged 58 hail reports and 71 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Grant County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Grant 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.