Colfax County, NM
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Colfax County has experienced 18 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Wildfires, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Mudflows, And Debris Flows in 2022. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Colfax County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, lightning, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 105 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is elevated (80th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Colfax County has been designated in 18 declarations since 1965, covering 6 disaster types including fire (9), flood (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Fire | Wildfires, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Mudflows, And Debris Flows |
| 2022 | Fire | Cook'S Peak Fire |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Fire | Ute Park Fire |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2014 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2011 | Fire | Track Fire |
| 2006 | Fire | Rivera Mesa Fire |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 total declarations since 1965.
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 | 97.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 58.6 | 21 | 0 | $1.5M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 35.6 | 121 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 18.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 16.1 | 5 | 0 | $300K |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 40.2 | 79 | 0 | $407K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 17 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 85.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 3.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 26.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 87.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 39.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 75.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 37.7 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | No Rating | 0 | — | — | — |
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
Colfax County ranks in the 80th percentile (High) 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 | 80th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 58th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 65th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 89th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 93rd | High |
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 | 92nd | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 96th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 64.8% | — |
NOAA tracked 105 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 51 in 2016–20 vs 54 in 2021–25 (+6% — relatively stable).
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 Colfax County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Colfax County, New Mexico are wildfire, lightning, and winter weather. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Colfax County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Colfax County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2022. The most common disaster type on record is fire (9 declarations).
Has Colfax County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Colfax County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Wildfires, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Mudflows, And Debris Flows in 2022.
How does Colfax County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Taos County, NM has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Harding County, NM has the lowest (Very Low). Colfax County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Colfax County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Colfax 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. Colfax County's composite score of 59 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 59% of US counties.