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Union County, New Mexico

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

Very Low overall risk
28th of 33highest risk in New Mexico
$4Mexpected losses a year
5federal declarations
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

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

$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 160 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$759,412 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 180 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$665,580 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
DroughtHigh92.2
$1M
WildfireLow88.8
$759K
Inland floodingVery Low7.1
$666K
HailLow65.4
$308K
Cold waveVery Low19.3
$142K
LightningLow45.9
$136K
Winter weatherModerate70.3
$88K
TornadoVery Low12.4
$66K
Strong windVery Low8.7
$42K
EarthquakeVery Low17.5
$15K
Heat waveVery Low10.9
$14K
Ice stormVery Low11.6
$4K
LandslideVery Low19.9
$77
AvalancheVery Low3.2
$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

Flood1
Drought1
Severe Storm1
Fire1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 10, 2000Severe Fire ThreatsEmergency
Jan 29, 1998Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 2, 1977DroughtEmergency
May 11, 1973Severe Storms, Snow Melt & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

48tornadoes
419hail reports, largest 3 inches
114damaging thunderstorm winds
32floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 23, 2010EF2Sedan0 / 0
May 23, 2010EF2Clayton Arpt0 / 0
Sep 18, 1965F2–0 / 0
May 10, 1972F2–0 / 0
May 23, 2010EF1Sedan0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 24, 2023HailDes Moines$5M
May 23, 2010TornadoSedan$325K
May 23, 2010TornadoClayton Arpt$250K
May 23, 2010TornadoSedan$125K
Jun 11, 2023HailClapham$80K
May 9, 1994HailDes 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 ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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

$122,700median home value (New Mexico $248,100, US $332,700)
1961median year homes were built (New Mexico 1985, US 1980)
68%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17.5%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; 2,101 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
Las Animas County, COVery Low11
Colfax CountyLow16
Quay CountyVery Low5
Dallam County, TXLow9
Hartley County, TXVery Low11
Baca County, COVery Low9
Cimarron County, OKLow16
Harding CountyVery Low6

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.