Union County, New Mexico
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Union County, New Mexico has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 88% of US counties. It ranks 28th of 33 counties in New Mexico. The costliest hazards here are drought, wildfires and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $3.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $877 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). No homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Union County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 92.2 | $1M | ||
| Wildfire | 88.8 | $759K | ||
| Inland flooding | 7.1 | $666K | ||
| Hail | 65.4 | $308K | ||
| Cold wave | 19.3 | $142K | ||
| Lightning | 45.9 | $136K | ||
| Winter weather | 70.3 | $88K | ||
| Tornado | 12.4 | $66K | ||
| Strong wind | 8.7 | $42K | ||
| Earthquake | 17.5 | $15K | ||
| Heat wave | 10.9 | $14K | ||
| Ice storm | 11.6 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 19.9 | $77 | ||
| Avalanche | 3.2 | $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 Union County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
New Mexico also had 42 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1951
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 614 storm reports in Union County since 1951, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $6.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on May 23, 2010 near Sedan.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2010 | EF2 | Sedan | 0 / 0 |
| May 23, 2010 | EF2 | Clayton Arpt | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 18, 1965 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 10, 1972 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 23, 2010 | EF1 | Sedan | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2023 | Hail | Des Moines | $5M |
| May 23, 2010 | Tornado | Sedan | $325K |
| May 23, 2010 | Tornado | Clayton Arpt | $250K |
| May 23, 2010 | Tornado | Sedan | $125K |
| Jun 11, 2023 | Hail | Clapham | $80K |
| May 9, 1994 | Hail | Des Moines | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 31, 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 Union County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Union County
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; 2,101 housing units.
Compare in New Mexico
All 33 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Bernalillo County | Inland flooding | |
| Doña Ana County | Inland flooding | |
| Santa Fe County | Inland flooding | |
| Sandoval County | Inland flooding | |
| San Juan County | Inland flooding | |
| Valencia County | Inland flooding | |
| Lea County | Inland flooding | |
| McKinley County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Las Animas County, CO | 11 | |
| Colfax County | 16 | |
| Quay County | 5 | |
| Dallam County, TX | 9 | |
| Hartley County, TX | 11 | |
| Baca County, CO | 9 | |
| Cimarron County, OK | 16 | |
| Harding County | 6 |
Common questions about Union County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Union County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Union County, about $1.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $759,412.
How many federal disasters has Union County had?
Union County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.
Is Union County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 28th 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 Union County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Union County had?
NOAA records list 48 tornadoes in Union County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on May 23, 2010 near Sedan. The weather service has also logged 419 hail reports and 32 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.