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Torrance County, New Mexico

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

Relatively Low overall risk
24th of 33highest risk in New Mexico
$9Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 71homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Torrance County, New Mexico has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 54% of US counties. It ranks 24th of 33 counties in New Mexico. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and drought. FEMA estimates about $8.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $596 per resident. Since 1985 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2023 (echo ridge fire, nm fmag). About 1 in 71 homes here carry federal flood insurance (120 policies).

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

Top risks in Torrance County

$6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • 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
$1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 575 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.

Drought

Moderate
$698,618 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 109 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow62.8
$6M
WildfireModerate91.4
$1M
DroughtModerate83.5
$699K
HailLow72.1
$378K
EarthquakeLow63.5
$339K
LightningLow50.0
$142K
Cold waveVery Low14.6
$90K
Winter weatherModerate70.1
$80K
TornadoVery Low10.1
$40K
Ice stormLow42.8
$37K
Strong windVery Low7.9
$35K
Heat waveVery Low13.1
$18K
LandslideVery Low23.1
$99
AvalancheVery Low28.8
$59
Volcanic activityVery Low24.1
$1

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 Torrance County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire7
Flood2
Severe Storm2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Apr 2, 2023Echo Ridge Fire, Nm FmagFire management
Jun 16, 2016Dog Head FireFire management
Oct 29, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2008Big Springs FireFire management
Apr 21, 2008Trigo FireFire management
Nov 21, 2007Ojo Peak FireFire management
Aug 30, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 13, 2000Severe Forest FireMajor disaster
May 10, 2000Severe Fire ThreatsEmergency
Show all 12
Jan 29, 1998Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 18, 1985Severe 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 233 storm reports in Torrance County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 13 injuries and about $2.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on July 11, 1959.

18tornadoes
132hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
51damaging thunderstorm winds
28floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 11, 1959F0–0 / 0
May 30, 1957F0–0 / 0
Oct 13, 1958F0–0 / 0
May 30, 1965F0–0 / 0
Sep 14, 1976F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 25, 2017HailClines Corners$1M
Sep 4, 2021Flash FloodMoriarty$250K
Sep 4, 2021Thunderstorm WindMoriarty$200K
Jul 23, 2021HailPinos Wells$150K
Jun 16, 1999HailEstancia$100K
Oct 11, 2008Thunderstorm WindMoriarty$81K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 18, 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 Torrance County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (120 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4,797paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $4,797 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 Torrance County

$159,700median home value (New Mexico $248,100, US $332,700)
1987median year homes were built (New Mexico 1985, US 1980)
31%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
45.6%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; 7,293 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
Bernalillo CountyHigh9
Santa Fe CountyModerate8
Valencia CountyModerate13
San Miguel CountyLow19
Lincoln CountyLow33
Socorro CountyLow10
Guadalupe CountyVery Low7

Common questions about Torrance County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Torrance County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Torrance County, about $6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $1 million.

How many federal disasters has Torrance County had?

Torrance County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1985, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Echo Ridge Fire, Nm Fmag in April 2023.

Is Torrance County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 24th 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 Torrance County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 71 homes in Torrance 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 Torrance County had?

NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in Torrance County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on July 11, 1959. The weather service has also logged 132 hail reports and 28 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.