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Roosevelt County, New Mexico

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
8th of 33highest risk in New Mexico
$45Mexpected losses a year
5federal declarations
1 in 77homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Roosevelt County, New Mexico has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 84% of US counties. It ranks 8th of 33 counties in New Mexico. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and drought. FEMA estimates about $45 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,348 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (1 major disaster). The most recent was in April 2011 (Tire Fire). About 1 in 77 homes here carry federal flood insurance (107 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $322,000 on 30 claims here.

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

Top risks in Roosevelt County

$20.3 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.
$16.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 60 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$3.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 110 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate83.7
$20M
WildfireHigh98.6
$16M
DroughtHigh97.0
$3M
HailModerate89.9
$1M
TornadoLow53.5
$1M
Strong windModerate76.3
$999K
Heat waveLow65.5
$647K
Cold waveLow26.6
$309K
Winter weatherModerate83.0
$209K
LightningLow38.7
$132K
EarthquakeVery Low25.0
$39K
Ice stormLow27.4
$24K
HurricaneVery Low32.2
$15K
LandslideVery Low7.5
$13
Volcanic activityVery Low38.1
$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 moderate 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 Roosevelt County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire2
Drought1
Severe Storm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Apr 17, 2011Tire FireFire management
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 10, 2000Severe Fire ThreatsEmergency
Jan 29, 1998Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 2, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 531 storm reports in Roosevelt County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 9 injuries and about $17.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on March 23, 2007 near Cameo.

61tornadoes
302hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
117damaging thunderstorm winds
41floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 23, 2007EF2Cameo0 / 0
May 26, 2019EF2Dora0 / 0
Apr 21, 1957F2–0 / 0
May 7, 1972F2–0 / 0
Jun 25, 1965F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 5, 2008Thunderstorm WindMilnesand$3M
Mar 23, 2007TornadoCameo$3M
Aug 3, 2017Flash FloodElida$2M
Aug 3, 2017Thunderstorm WindDora$2M
May 26, 2019TornadoDora$2M
Aug 3, 2017Thunderstorm WindRogers$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 Roosevelt County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (107 policies)
5.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$322,424paid on 30 flood claims since 1978
2021costliest year, with $234,930 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 Roosevelt County

$135,800median home value (New Mexico $248,100, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (New Mexico 1985, US 1980)
56%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.2%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; 8,577 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
Lea CountyModerate5
Chaves CountyModerate7
Curry CountyLow4
Quay CountyVery Low5
Bailey County, TXVery Low14
Cochran County, TXVery Low14
De Baca CountyVery Low5

Common questions about Roosevelt County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Roosevelt County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Roosevelt County, about $20.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $16.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Roosevelt County had?

Roosevelt County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 1 major disaster. The most recent was Tire Fire in April 2011.

Is Roosevelt County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 8th 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 Roosevelt County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 77 homes in Roosevelt 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 Roosevelt County had?

NOAA records list 61 tornadoes in Roosevelt County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on March 23, 2007 near Cameo. The weather service has also logged 302 hail reports and 41 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.