riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Catron County Disaster Risk

Catron County, New Mexico

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

37th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#26

of 33 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

41th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 41% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively High

Higher than 96% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 1% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 23% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 0% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Catron County

Risk Verdict

Catron County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 37th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Catron County, scoring in the 96th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 41th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (23th), tornado (1th), hurricane (0th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Catron County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as flood also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Catron County is notably safer than the average county in New Mexico. Its composite risk score is 22.3 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Catron County, NM?
Catron County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 37th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Catron County?
Catron County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (96th percentile), flooding (41th percentile), earthquake (23th percentile), tornado (1th percentile), hurricane (0th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 96th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Catron County risk compare to the New Mexico average?
Catron County's composite risk percentile is 37th, compared to the New Mexico state average of 59th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Catron County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in New Mexico.
Is Catron County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Catron County's wildfire risk is at the 96th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Catron County is at the 41th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Catron County a safe place to live?
Catron County's composite risk score of 37th percentile is below the New Mexico state average of 59th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is wildfire at the 96th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Mora County

New Mexico

+2.1

Very Low

39th percentile

Torrance County

New Mexico

+9.5

Relatively Low

46th percentile

Quay County

New Mexico

-10.7

Very Low

26th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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