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Mora County, New Mexico

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

Very Low overall risk
25th of 33highest risk in New Mexico
$7Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 3homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Mora County, New Mexico has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 61% of US counties. It ranks 25th of 33 counties in New Mexico. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and drought. FEMA estimates about $7.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,715 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2023 (Las Tusas Fire). About 1 in 3 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,029 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $478,000 on 64 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Mora County

$4 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$2.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 100 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$194,397 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 147 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow50.7
$4M
WildfireModerate95.9
$3M
DroughtLow62.6
$194K
LightningLow28.5
$61K
Cold waveVery Low8.9
$37K
EarthquakeVery Low26.1
$29K
Winter weatherLow38.4
$25K
HailVery Low12.2
$24K
TornadoVery Low4.9
$11K
Strong windVery Low2.7
$8K
LandslideLow75.9
$6K
Ice stormVery Low1.1
$300
Heat waveVery Low2.5
$117
AvalancheVery Low22.1
$28

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 Mora County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire8
Flood5
Severe Storm4
Hurricane1

Most recent

May 10, 2023Las Tusas FireFire management
May 4, 2022Wildfires, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Mudflows, and Debris FlowsMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 21, 2006Rivera Mesa FireFire management
Apr 12, 2006Ojo Feliz FireFire management
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 29, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 4, 2002Nm-Cerro Pelado-6-2-02Fire management
Show all 18
Jun 15, 2000Nm-La Cueva FireFire management
May 13, 2000Severe Forest FireMajor disaster
May 10, 2000Severe Fire ThreatsEmergency
Sep 22, 1999Severe Ice Storms, Flooding and Heavy RainsMajor disaster
Jan 29, 1998Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1979Severe Storms, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 1973Severe Storms, Snow Melt & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 1, 1965Severe Storms & 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 211 storm reports in Mora County since 1961, with 1 death and 1 injury and about $3.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on July 21, 1973.

12tornadoes
143hail reports, largest 3 inches
9damaging thunderstorm winds
45floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 21, 1973F1–0 / 0
Jun 17, 1965F0–0 / 0
Jun 8, 1969F0–0 / 0
Jul 23, 1990F0–0 / 0
Aug 14, 1990F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 13, 2021Flash FloodChacon$750K
Jul 21, 2022Flash FloodHolman$500K
Jul 2, 2022Flash FloodMora$300K
Apr 30, 1999Flash FloodMora$200K
Jul 12, 2022Flash FloodLucero$150K
Jul 1, 2022Flash FloodHolman$150K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 24, 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 Mora County

Check your address flood zone ›
33%of homes have federal flood insurance (1,029 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$478,251paid on 64 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $303,252 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 Mora County

$122,600median home value (New Mexico $248,100, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (New Mexico 1985, US 1980)
44%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
24.4%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; 2,923 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
Santa Fe CountyModerate8
Rio Arriba CountyLow15
Taos CountyLow8
San Miguel CountyLow19
Colfax CountyLow16
Harding CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Mora County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Mora County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Mora County, about $4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $2.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Mora County had?

Mora County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Las Tusas Fire in May 2023.

Is Mora County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 25th 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 Mora County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 3 homes in Mora 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 Mora County had?

NOAA records list 12 tornadoes in Mora County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on July 21, 1973. The weather service has also logged 143 hail reports and 45 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.