Union County, NM
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Union County has experienced 7 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.
Union County's highest-rated hazards are drought, wildfire, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 152 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is elevated (95th 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. Union County has been designated in 7 declarations since 1973, covering 6 disaster types including biological (2), hurricane (1), fire (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2000 | Fire | Severe Fire Threats |
| 1998 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1977 | Drought | Drought |
| 1973 | Flood | Severe Storms, Snow Melt & 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 | 88.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 7.1 | 11 | 0 | $130K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 17.5 | 3 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 10.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 12.4 | 9 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 65.4 | 132 | 0 | $5.2M |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 8.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 70.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 11.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 19.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 45.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively High | 92.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 19.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 3.2 | — | — | — |
| 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
Union County ranks in the 95th 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 | 95th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 67th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 99th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 86th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 98th | 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 | 92nd | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 64.2% | — |
NOAA tracked 152 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 81 in 2016–20 vs 71 in 2021–25 (-12% — 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 Union County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Union County, New Mexico are drought, wildfire, and winter weather. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Union County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Union County has received 7 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Union County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Union County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Union County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Colfax County, NM has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Harding County, NM has the lowest (Very Low). Union County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Union County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Union 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. Union County's composite score of 12 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 12% of US counties.