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San Juan County, New Mexico

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
3rd of 33highest risk in New Mexico
$44Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

San Juan County, New Mexico has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 88% of US counties. It ranks 3rd of 33 counties in New Mexico. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $44 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $363 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (severe storms and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (135 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $537,000 on 48 claims here.

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

Top risks in San Juan County

$31.1 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.
$4.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 108 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Cold wave

Moderate
$3.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 20 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate92.4
$31M
DroughtHigh99.0
$5M
Cold waveModerate87.4
$3M
EarthquakeLow83.9
$2M
LightningHigh96.5
$1M
Heat waveModerate79.9
$910K
WildfireLow81.6
$285K
Winter weatherHigh89.3
$233K
TornadoVery Low22.6
$179K
Strong windLow23.8
$133K
LandslideModerate93.0
$51K
HailVery Low15.8
$33K
Ice stormLow38.9
$30K
AvalancheVery Low26.9
$47

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 San Juan County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire4
Flood3
Drought1
Severe Storm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Oct 26, 2026Severe Storms and FloodingEmergency
Jun 20, 2024South Fork Fire, Salt Fire, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 18, 2012Blanco (Cr 4901) FireFire management
Sep 13, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 13, 2000Severe Forest FireMajor disaster
May 10, 2000Severe Fire ThreatsEmergency
Sep 22, 1999Severe Ice Storms, Flooding and Heavy RainsMajor disaster
Mar 2, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 159 storm reports in San Juan County since 1957, with 5 deaths and 11 injuries and about $11.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 10, 1957.

11tornadoes
28hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
55damaging thunderstorm winds
55floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 10, 1957F2–0 / 1
Jun 18, 1968F2–3 / 0
May 28, 1963F0–0 / 0
Sep 28, 1990F0–0 / 0
Oct 23, 2000F0La Plata0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 21, 2024Thunderstorm WindFarmington Airport$3M
Aug 1, 2010Flash FloodFarmington$2M
Aug 26, 2015Flash FloodAztec$1M
Aug 5, 2016Flash FloodShiprock$1M
Jun 21, 2024Flash FloodFarmington Airport$500K
Aug 25, 2024Flash FloodShiprock$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 20, 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 San Juan County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (135 policies)
6.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$537,443paid on 48 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $253,199 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 San Juan County

$193,800median home value (New Mexico $248,100, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (New Mexico 1985, US 1980)
39%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
30.1%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; 48,255 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
Sandoval CountyLow20
McKinley CountyLow9
Apache County, AZLow14
La Plata County, COLow8
Rio Arriba CountyLow15
Montezuma County, COLow6
San Juan County, UTVery Low4
Archuleta County, COVery Low6

Cities in San Juan County

Common questions about San Juan County

What is the biggest natural hazard in San Juan County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in San Juan County, about $31.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $4.8 million.

How many federal disasters has San Juan County had?

San Juan County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in October 2026.

Is San Juan County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 3rd 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 San Juan County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in San Juan 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 San Juan County had?

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in San Juan County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 10, 1957. The weather service has also logged 28 hail reports and 55 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.