riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

San Miguel County Disaster Risk

San Miguel County, New Mexico

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

75th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#15

of 33 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

83th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 83% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively High

Higher than 97% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 15% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 48% of US counties

Risk Advisory: San Miguel County

Risk Verdict

San Miguel County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 75th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for San Miguel County, scoring in the 97th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 83th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (48th), tornado (15th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, San Miguel 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

San Miguel County is significantly riskier than the average county in New Mexico. Its composite risk score is 15.7 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 San Miguel County, NM?
San Miguel County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 75th 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 San Miguel County?
San Miguel County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (97th percentile), flooding (83th percentile), earthquake (48th percentile), tornado (15th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 97th 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 San Miguel County risk compare to the New Mexico average?
San Miguel County's composite risk percentile is 75th, compared to the New Mexico state average of 59th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means San Miguel County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in New Mexico.
Is San Miguel County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, San Miguel County's wildfire risk is at the 97th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, San Miguel County is at the 83th 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 San Miguel County higher risk than average?
San Miguel County's composite risk score of 75th percentile is above the New Mexico state average of 59th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (97th 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

Taos County

New Mexico

-0.3

Relatively Low

74th percentile

Grant County

New Mexico

-0.4

Relatively Low

74th percentile

Sandoval County

New Mexico

+2.4

Relatively Low

77th 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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