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Hidalgo County, New Mexico

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

Very Low overall risk
29th of 33highest risk in New Mexico
$3Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Hidalgo County, New Mexico has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 91% of US counties. It ranks 29th of 33 counties in New Mexico. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $3.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $795 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2006 (severe storms and flooding). Only 2 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 Hidalgo County

$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.

Drought

Moderate
$863,539 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 125 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$421,244 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 145 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low14.9
$1M
DroughtModerate83.8
$864K
WildfireLow83.0
$421K
Heat waveLow56.3
$367K
LightningLow42.7
$131K
EarthquakeVery Low33.1
$73K
Cold waveVery Low11.0
$66K
HailVery Low4.5
$8K
Winter weatherVery Low11.5
$7K
Strong windVery Low1.6
$4K
TornadoVery Low2.4
$3K
Ice stormVery Low3.7
$1K
HurricaneVery Low7.1
$332
AvalancheVery Low33.3
$101
LandslideVery Low10.9
$24

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 Hidalgo County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood5
Fire1
Hurricane1
Severe Storm1

Most recent

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
Nov 20, 1972Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1961

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 71 storm reports in Hidalgo County since 1961, with 1 death and 1 injury and about $150,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on June 15, 1961.

3tornadoes
17hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
40damaging thunderstorm winds
8floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 15, 1961F1–0 / 0
Oct 15, 2005F0Animas0 / 0
Sep 1, 2016EFULordsburg0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 16, 2007HailCloverdale$55K
Aug 9, 2017Thunderstorm WindMondel$50K
Aug 9, 2017Thunderstorm WindAnimas$25K
May 16, 2007HailCloverdale$10K
Jul 15, 2004Thunderstorm WindLordsburg$3K
Jun 15, 1961Tornado–$3K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 19, 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 Hidalgo County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$27,828paid on 3 flood claims since 1978
2006costliest year, with $18,602 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 Hidalgo County

$111,000median home value (New Mexico $248,100, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (New Mexico 1985, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
30.7%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; 2,232 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
Cochise County, AZModerate12
Grant CountyLow11
Luna CountyLow5
Greenlee County, AZVery Low11

Common questions about Hidalgo County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hidalgo County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Hidalgo County, about $1.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $863,539.

How many federal disasters has Hidalgo County had?

Hidalgo County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in August 2006.

Is Hidalgo County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 29th 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 Hidalgo County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Hidalgo 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 Hidalgo County had?

NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Hidalgo County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on June 15, 1961. The weather service has also logged 17 hail reports and 8 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.