Harding County, New Mexico
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Harding County, New Mexico has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than almost every US county. It ranks 33rd of 33 counties in New Mexico. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $593,000 a year in expected losses, or roughly $904 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2013 (severe storms, flooding and mudslides). No 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 Harding 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 2.8 | $390K | ||
| Wildfire | 67.9 | $121K | ||
| Cold wave | 5.3 | $15K | ||
| Winter weather | 19.9 | $14K | ||
| Lightning | 4.4 | $12K | ||
| Hail | 4.9 | $9K | ||
| Strong wind | 2.2 | $8K | ||
| Tornado | 3.5 | $8K | ||
| Drought | 22.4 | $6K | ||
| Heat wave | 5.1 | $5K | ||
| Earthquake | 5.1 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 20.7 | $103 | ||
| Ice storm | 0.0 | $59 | ||
| Avalanche | 7.9 | $4 |
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 Harding 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 1959
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 186 storm reports in Harding County since 1959, with 0 deaths and 11 injuries and about $343,300 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 14, 1977.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 14, 1977 | F3 | – | 2 / 0 |
| May 17, 1962 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Aug 27, 1987 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 2, 1995 | F0 | Rosebud (29 | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 3, 1996 | F0 | Rosebud | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Roy | $200K |
| May 29, 2021 | Hail | Roy | $50K |
| May 17, 1962 | Tornado | – | $25K |
| May 14, 1977 | Tornado | – | $25K |
| Jul 3, 2016 | Hail | Mosquero | $25K |
| Aug 12, 1993 | Hail | Mosquero | $5K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 12, 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 Harding 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 Harding 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; 496 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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Miguel County | 19 | |
| Colfax County | 16 | |
| Quay County | 5 | |
| Mora County | 18 | |
| Union County | 5 |
Common questions about Harding County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Harding County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Harding County, about $389,919 a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $121,389.
How many federal disasters has Harding County had?
Harding County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides in October 2013.
Is Harding County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 33rd 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 Harding County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Harding County had?
NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in Harding County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 14, 1977. The weather service has also logged 143 hail reports and 6 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.