Eddy County, NM
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Eddy County has experienced 11 federally declared disasters since 1984, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Eddy County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, inland flooding, and wildfire, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 26% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Eddy County has been designated in 11 declarations since 1984, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (3), fire (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2014 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2006 | Fire | Southeast New Mexico Fire Complex |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2000 | Fire | Severe Forest Fire |
| 2000 | Fire | Severe Fire Threats |
| 1998 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 11 total declarations since 1984.
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 Low | 88.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 90.7 | 58 | 1 | $232K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 26 | 51 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 78.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 27.3 | 4 | 0 | $20K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 24.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 74.2 | 102 | 0 | $1.2M |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 83.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 95.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 84.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 55.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 78.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 85.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 18 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 20.9 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
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
Eddy County ranks in the 64th percentile (Moderate) 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 | 64th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 39th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 87th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 90th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 52nd | 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 | 76th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 76th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 43.2% | — |
NOAA tracked 164 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 94 in 2016–20 vs 70 in 2021–25 (-26% — frequency decreasing).
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 Eddy County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Eddy County, New Mexico are winter weather, inland flooding, and wildfire. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Eddy County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Eddy County has received 11 federal disaster declarations since 1984, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (3 declarations).
Has Eddy County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Eddy County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Eddy County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Chaves County, NM has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Loving County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Eddy County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Eddy County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Eddy 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. Eddy County's composite score of 84 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 84% of US counties.