Los Alamos County, New Mexico
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Los Alamos County, New Mexico has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 96% of US counties. It ranks 32nd of 33 counties in New Mexico. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $5.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $270 per resident. Since 2000 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2022 (wildfires, straight-line winds, flooding, mudflows and debris flows). Only 19 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $31,000 on 10 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Los Alamos 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 11.1 | $3M | ||
| Wildfire | 83.4 | $1M | ||
| Earthquake | 50.3 | $558K | ||
| Lightning | 37.0 | $287K | ||
| Winter weather | 49.0 | $124K | ||
| Cold wave | 6.8 | $74K | ||
| Hail | 11.1 | $72K | ||
| Strong wind | 3.0 | $29K | ||
| Tornado | 3.8 | $24K | ||
| Heat wave | 6.3 | $17K | ||
| Landslide | 66.0 | $8K | ||
| Ice storm | 1.9 | $1K | ||
| Avalanche | 8.6 | $11 |
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 low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Los Alamos 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 1961
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 57 storm reports in Los Alamos County since 1961 and about $1.5 billion in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2000 | Wildfire | Los Alamos | $1.5B |
| Aug 21, 2011 | Flash Flood | Los Alamos | $6M |
| Jul 2, 2001 | Flash Flood | Los Alamos | $4M |
| Aug 11, 2001 | Flash Flood | Los Alamos | $100K |
| Oct 12, 2012 | Hail | Los Alamos Airport | $50K |
| Jul 11, 2012 | Flash Flood | Los Alamos | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 5, 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 Los Alamos 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 Los Alamos 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; 8,713 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe County | 8 | |
| Sandoval County | 20 | |
| Rio Arriba County | 15 |
Common questions about Los Alamos County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Los Alamos County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Los Alamos County, about $2.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $1.2 million.
How many federal disasters has Los Alamos County had?
Los Alamos County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2000, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Wildfires, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Mudflows, and Debris Flows in May 2022.
Is Los Alamos County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 32nd 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 Los Alamos County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Los Alamos 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 Los Alamos County had?
NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Los Alamos County since 1950. The weather service has also logged 37 hail reports and 13 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.