Curry County, NM
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Curry County has experienced 6 federally declared disasters since 2000, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Curry County's highest-rated hazards are drought, wildfire, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 57% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (94th 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. Curry County has been designated in 6 declarations since 2000, covering 4 disaster types including biological (2), fire (2), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011 | Fire | Tire Fire |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2000 | Fire | Severe Fire Threats |
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 | 95.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 52.5 | 18 | 0 | $716K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 32.4 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 63.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 58.9 | 9 | 0 | $300K |
| Hurricane | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 88.5 | 90 | 0 | $138K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 57.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 95.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 35.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 43.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 57.8 | 1 | 0 | $2K |
| Drought | Relatively High | 98 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 18.9 | — | — | — |
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
Curry County ranks in the 94th 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 | 94th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 95th | High |
| Household characteristics | 96th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 89th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 60th | Moderate |
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 | 96th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 96th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 29.2% | — |
NOAA tracked 118 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 46 in 2016–20 vs 72 in 2021–25 (+57% — frequency increasing).
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 Curry County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Curry County, New Mexico are drought, wildfire, and winter weather. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Curry County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Curry County has received 6 federal disaster declarations since 2000, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Curry County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Curry County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Curry County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Roosevelt County, NM has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and De Baca County, NM has the lowest (Very Low). Curry County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Curry County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Curry 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. Curry County's composite score of 62 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 62% of US counties.