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Harding County, New Mexico

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

Very Low overall risk
33rd of 33highest risk in New Mexico
$593Kexpected losses a year
6federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$389,919 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 years.
  • 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.
$121,389 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 390 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.

Cold wave

Very Low
$15,168 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low2.8
$390K
WildfireLow67.9
$121K
Cold waveVery Low5.3
$15K
Winter weatherVery Low19.9
$14K
LightningVery Low4.4
$12K
HailVery Low4.9
$9K
Strong windVery Low2.2
$8K
TornadoVery Low3.5
$8K
DroughtVery Low22.4
$6K
Heat waveVery Low5.1
$5K
EarthquakeVery Low5.1
$4K
LandslideVery Low20.7
$103
Ice stormVery Low0.0
$59
AvalancheVery Low7.9
$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

Flood2
Drought1
Fire1
Hurricane1
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Oct 29, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 10, 2000Severe Fire ThreatsEmergency
Mar 2, 1977DroughtEmergency
May 11, 1973Severe Storms, Snow Melt & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

8tornadoes
143hail reports, largest 3 inches
25damaging thunderstorm winds
6floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 14, 1977F3–2 / 0
May 17, 1962F2–1 / 0
Aug 27, 1987F0–0 / 0
Jun 2, 1995F0Rosebud (290 / 0
Jun 3, 1996F0Rosebud0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 5, 1995Thunderstorm WindRoy$200K
May 29, 2021HailRoy$50K
May 17, 1962Tornado–$25K
May 14, 1977Tornado–$25K
Jul 3, 2016HailMosquero$25K
Aug 12, 1993HailMosquero$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 ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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

$70,000median home value (New Mexico $248,100, US $332,700)
1960median year homes were built (New Mexico 1985, US 1980)
68%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
26.4%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; 496 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
San Miguel CountyLow19
Colfax CountyLow16
Quay CountyVery Low5
Mora CountyVery Low18
Union CountyVery Low5

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.