riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Chaves County Disaster Risk

Chaves County, New Mexico

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

88th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#4

of 33 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

92th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 92% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 92% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 21% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 31% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 39% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Chaves County

Risk Verdict

Chaves County has a relatively moderate overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 88th percentile nationally. While not in the highest tier, this county faces meaningful hazard exposure. Residents are encouraged to understand their specific risks and maintain emergency supplies.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Chaves County, scoring in the 92th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 92th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (39th), earthquake (31th), tornado (21th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Chaves 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

Chaves County is significantly riskier than the average county in New Mexico. Its composite risk score is 28.7 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Chaves County, NM?
Chaves County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 88th 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 Chaves County?
Chaves County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (92th percentile), flooding (92th percentile), hurricane (39th percentile), earthquake (31th percentile), tornado (21th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 92th 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 Chaves County risk compare to the New Mexico average?
Chaves County's composite risk percentile is 88th, compared to the New Mexico state average of 59th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Chaves County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in New Mexico.
Is Chaves County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Chaves County's wildfire risk is at the 92th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Chaves County is at the 92th 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.
Why is Chaves County higher risk than average?
Chaves County's composite risk score of 88th percentile is above the New Mexico state average of 59th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (92th percentile), along with flooding risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

San Juan County

New Mexico

+0.7

Relatively Moderate

88th percentile

Lea County

New Mexico

-1.6

Relatively Moderate

86th percentile

Santa Fe County

New Mexico

-1.7

Relatively Moderate

86th 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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