Taos County Disaster Risk
Taos County, New Mexico
FEMA Risk Rating
Relatively Low
National Percentile
74th
of 3,144 counties
State Rank
#16
of 33 (1 = highest risk)
Flood Risk
82th
percentile
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Flood
River, coastal, and surface flooding risk
Moderate
Higher than 82% 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 22% of US counties
Earthquake
Seismic activity and ground shaking risk
Relatively Low
Higher than 62% of US counties
Risk Overview
About Natural Disaster Risk in Taos County, New Mexico
Taos risk exceeds U.S. county average
Taos County's composite risk score of 74.27 and 'Relatively Low' rating place it above typical U.S. counties in natural disaster exposure. The county's northern location and mountainous terrain create meaningful hazard concentrations across multiple categories.
Mid-range risk among New Mexico counties
With a score of 74.27 against the state average of 58.92, Taos County ranks above the midpoint of New Mexico's risk distribution. The county's wildfire score of 96.18 and flood risk of 81.68 drive its elevated composite exposure within the state.
Riskier than southern counties, safer than Santa Fe
Taos's 74.27 score sits between San Miguel (74.59) to the east and Santa Fe (85.97) to the south, placing it in New Mexico's higher-risk corridor. The county experiences substantially more exposure than southern peers like Torrance (46.15) due to its northern forest and mountain geography.
Wildfires dominate, floods second concern
Wildfire risk of 96.18 makes forest fires Taos's most pressing hazard, driven by dense ponderosa and mixed-conifer forests across much of the county. Flood risk of 81.68 creates secondary exposure during monsoon and snowmelt periods, particularly in valley bottoms and near waterways.
Wildfire and flood coverage critical
Taos residents should verify wildfire coverage under standard policies and obtain separate flood insurance, essential given the county's 96.18 wildfire and 81.68 flood scores. Creating 100-foot defensible space zones around structures—removing dead trees and brush—provides critical wildfire mitigation for this high-risk county.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor
Preparedness Guide
What to Prepare for in Taos County
Top Hazards by Exposure
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)
Risk Advisory: Taos County
Risk Verdict
Taos County sits below the national average for natural disaster exposure, ranking at the 74th percentile across all U.S. counties. Understanding the specific hazards behind Taos County's ranking helps residents prioritize where to direct emergency planning efforts.
Hazard Breakdown
Wildfire risk is Taos County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 96th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Flood ranks second at the 82th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include earthquake (62th percentile), tornado (22th percentile).
Preparedness Context
At the 96th percentile nationally for wildfire, Taos County residents should verify whether their insurance policy includes replacement cost coverage for structures and whether the insurer still writes new policies in this fire-risk zone. Alongside wildfire, flood at the 82th percentile nationally means a multi-season preparedness mindset — fire season and flood or storm season often require different household plans. Local USFS or Cal Fire (where applicable) fire risk maps and seasonal Red Flag Warning alerts from the National Weather Service are two free resources Taos County residents can use to stay ahead of rapidly changing wildfire conditions.
Regional Context
A composite score 15.4 points above the New Mexico state average puts Taos County in a higher-risk category than most counties in the state.
Is your household prepared for Taos County's hazards?
Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the natural disaster risk in Taos County, NM?
What types of natural hazards affect Taos County?
How does Taos County risk compare to the New Mexico average?
Is Taos County at risk for wildfire?
How is natural disaster risk measured?
Why is Taos County higher risk than average?
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.