Catron County, NM
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Catron County has experienced 12 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Catron County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, landslide, and lightning, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Catron County has been designated in 12 declarations since 1973, covering 4 disaster types including flood (6), fire (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2014 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2012 | Fire | Whitewater-Baldy Fire Complex |
| 2011 | Fire | Wallow Fire |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2000 | Fire | Severe Fire Threats |
| 1993 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1985 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1984 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 12 total declarations since 1973.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | 96.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 41.1 | 7 | 0 | $335K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 22.9 | 2 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 8.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 1.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 3 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 1.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 34.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 2.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 16.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 82.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 24.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 93.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 51.3 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 37.8 | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Catron County ranks in the 45th percentile (Low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 45th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 44th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 45th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 54th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 42nd | Low |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 94th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 96th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 94.4% | — |
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Catron County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Catron County, New Mexico are wildfire, landslide, and lightning. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Catron County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Catron County has received 12 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is flood (6 declarations).
Has Catron County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Catron County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Catron County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Valencia County, NM has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Greenlee County, AZ has the lowest (Very Low). Catron County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Catron County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Catron County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Catron County's composite score of 37 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 37% of US counties.