riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Sierra County Disaster Risk

Sierra County, New Mexico

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

56th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#22

of 33 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

74th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 74% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 83% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 4% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 45% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 12% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Sierra County

Risk Verdict

Sierra County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 56th 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 Sierra County, scoring in the 83th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 74th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (45th), hurricane (12th), tornado (4th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Sierra 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

Sierra County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in New Mexico. Its composite risk score is within 3.1 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of New Mexico as a whole.

Is your home insured against Sierra County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

High flood risk area

Learn about NFIP flood insurance coverage for your property.

Learn More →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Sierra County, NM?
Sierra County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 56th 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 Sierra County?
Sierra County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (83th percentile), flooding (74th percentile), earthquake (45th percentile), hurricane (12th percentile), tornado (4th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 83th 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 Sierra County risk compare to the New Mexico average?
Sierra County's composite risk percentile is 56th, compared to the New Mexico state average of 59th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Sierra County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in New Mexico.
Is Sierra County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Sierra County's wildfire risk is at the 83th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Sierra County is at the 74th 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 Sierra County a safe place to live?
Sierra County's composite risk score of 56th 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 83th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Cibola County

New Mexico

+2.5

Relatively Low

58th percentile

Colfax County

New Mexico

+2.7

Relatively Low

58th percentile

Luna County

New Mexico

-4.2

Relatively Low

52th 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.

Explore more data for Sierra County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score