Hidalgo County, NM
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Hidalgo County has experienced 10 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.
Hidalgo County's highest-rated hazards are drought, wildfire, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (92nd 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. Hidalgo County has been designated in 10 declarations since 1973, covering 5 disaster types including flood (5), biological (2), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
| 1979 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1973 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
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 | 83 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 14.9 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 33.1 | 13 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 56.3 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 2.4 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 7.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 4.5 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 1.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 11.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 3.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 11 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 42.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 83.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 10.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 33.3 | — | — | — |
| 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
Hidalgo County ranks in the 92nd 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 | 92nd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 70th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 84th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 94th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 99th | 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 | 91st | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 89th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 59.4% | — |
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 Hidalgo County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Hidalgo County, New Mexico are drought, wildfire, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Hidalgo County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Hidalgo County has received 10 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is flood (5 declarations).
Has Hidalgo County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Hidalgo County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Hidalgo County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Doña Ana County, NM has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Greenlee County, AZ has the lowest (Very Low). Hidalgo County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Hidalgo County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Hidalgo 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. Hidalgo County's composite score of 9 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 9% of US counties.