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Luna County, New Mexico

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

Relatively Low overall risk
23rd of 33highest risk in New Mexico
$11Mexpected losses a year
5federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Luna County, New Mexico has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 52% of US counties. It ranks 23rd of 33 counties in New Mexico. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $434 per resident. Since 1999 it has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2013 (severe storms and flooding). Only 23 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 Luna County

$5.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.
$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 117 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Heat wave

Moderate
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow57.5
$5M
DroughtHigh98.1
$3M
Heat waveModerate81.3
$1M
Cold waveLow44.9
$513K
WildfireLow82.1
$335K
LightningModerate61.4
$230K
EarthquakeVery Low54.0
$222K
HailVery Low29.0
$74K
Winter weatherLow59.6
$58K
TornadoVery Low7.0
$23K
Strong windVery Low3.9
$15K
Ice stormVery Low15.0
$6K
HurricaneVery Low9.6
$1K
AvalancheVery Low23.4
$36
LandslideVery Low3.8
$3

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 Luna County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm3
Fire1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 30, 2013Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 10, 2000Severe Fire ThreatsEmergency
Sep 22, 1999Severe Ice Storms, Flooding and Heavy RainsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 126 storm reports in Luna County since 1960, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $1.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on August 9, 1971.

4tornadoes
28hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
50damaging thunderstorm winds
38floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 9, 1971F1–0 / 0
Oct 9, 2006F1Deming0 / 0
Jul 18, 1975F0–0 / 0
Oct 8, 2019EFUHermanas0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 12, 2008Flash FloodDeming$400K
Aug 12, 2005Flash FloodDeming$200K
Aug 28, 2006Flash FloodNortheast Portion$80K
Jul 18, 2008Thunderstorm WindDeming$70K
Aug 29, 2006FloodCountywide$50K
Sep 20, 1997Thunderstorm WindNutt$40K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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 Luna County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1929, with top winds near 45 mph about 46 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 30, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph46 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 30, 1929UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph46 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 Luna County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (23 policies)
4.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$151,028paid on 4 flood claims since 1978
1999costliest year, with $88,421 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 Luna County

$128,000median home value (New Mexico $248,100, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (New Mexico 1985, US 1980)
50%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
29.7%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; 11,621 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
Doña Ana CountyHigh8
Grant CountyLow11
Sierra CountyLow11
Hidalgo CountyVery Low8

Common questions about Luna County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Luna County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Luna County, about $5.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $3 million.

How many federal disasters has Luna County had?

Luna County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1999, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in September 2013.

Is Luna County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 23rd 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 Luna County?

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

NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Luna County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on August 9, 1971. The weather service has also logged 28 hail reports and 38 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Luna County?

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