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San Miguel County, New Mexico

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

Relatively Low overall risk
15th of 33highest risk in New Mexico
$21Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 8homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

San Miguel County, New Mexico has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 75% of US counties. It ranks 15th of 33 counties in New Mexico. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $21 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $772 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2023 (Las Tusas Fire). About 1 in 8 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,791 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $824,000 on 139 claims here.

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

Top risks in San Miguel County

$14.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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
$5.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 170 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$317,468 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate83.4
$14M
WildfireModerate97.3
$5M
Cold waveLow34.0
$317K
LightningModerate68.9
$300K
EarthquakeVery Low48.5
$159K
Winter weatherModerate80.8
$138K
Strong windLow22.1
$127K
HailLow41.8
$119K
DroughtLow49.7
$89K
TornadoVery Low14.8
$87K
Heat waveVery Low8.8
$9K
LandslideLow75.1
$6K
Ice stormVery Low4.6
$1K
AvalancheVery Low25.7
$45

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 Miguel County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire10
Flood4
Severe Storm4
Hurricane1

Most recent

May 10, 2023Las Tusas FireFire management
May 4, 2022Wildfires, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Mudflows, and Debris FlowsMajor disaster
Apr 30, 2022Calf Canyon FireFire management
Apr 12, 2022Hermit'S Peak FireFire management
Oct 29, 2014Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 6, 2014Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 5, 2013Tres Lagunas FireFire management
Aug 30, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 19
Apr 29, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 2002Nm - Roybal Fire - 06/13/02Fire management
May 7, 2002Nm - Dalton Fire - 05/06/02Fire management
May 30, 2000Viveach FireFire management
May 13, 2000Severe Forest FireMajor disaster
May 10, 2000Severe Fire ThreatsEmergency
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 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 415 storm reports in San Miguel County since 1957, with 4 deaths and 0 injuries and about $7.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 27, 1992.

18tornadoes
282hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
40damaging thunderstorm winds
70floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 27, 1992F2–0 / 0
Jun 18, 1966F1–0 / 0
Jun 3, 1974F1–0 / 0
Jun 23, 1981F1–0 / 0
Jun 13, 1982F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 21, 2022Flash FloodPendaries$2M
May 30, 2000WildfirePecos$1M
Sep 13, 2013FloodLas Vegas Airport$1M
Jun 21, 2024Flash FloodLas Vegas$1M
Jun 24, 2010Flash FloodRibera$750K
Aug 9, 2017HailLas Vegas Airport$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 30, 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 Miguel County

Check your address flood zone ›
13.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (1,791 policies)
26.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$823,760paid on 139 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $571,934 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 Miguel County

$188,500median home value (New Mexico $248,100, US $332,700)
1979median year homes were built (New Mexico 1985, US 1980)
52%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
29.9%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; 14,867 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
Torrance CountyLow12
Quay CountyVery Low5
Guadalupe CountyVery Low7
Mora CountyVery Low18
Harding CountyVery Low6

Common questions about San Miguel County

What is the biggest natural hazard in San Miguel County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in San Miguel County, about $14.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $5.1 million.

How many federal disasters has San Miguel County had?

San Miguel County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Las Tusas Fire in May 2023.

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

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 15th 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 Miguel County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 8 homes in San Miguel 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 Miguel County had?

NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in San Miguel County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 27, 1992. The weather service has also logged 282 hail reports and 70 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.