FEMA Records
11
Low volume
New Mexico · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Bernalillo County, NM
11 FEMA disaster declarations (2000-2020), with a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively High. Most common hazard: Fire.
- 11
- FEMA declarations
- 4
- Major disasters
- 94
- NRI risk · Relatively High
- Fire
- Top hazard
The verdict
Bernalillo County has a nationally busy FEMA history: 11 declarations, more than 12% of counties in this registry. But the state comparison tempers that reading: the total is 12% below the New Mexico county mean. FEMA's separate National Risk Index places the county in the riskiest 6%; that score models loss and vulnerability rather than counting declarations.
- Riskiest 6%
- of U.S. counties for FEMA National Risk Index score
- Relatively High
- FEMA National Risk Index rating
- 11
- FEMA declarations vs 21 national county avg
- 173
- NFIP flood insurance claims filed
FEMA's National Risk Index and its declaration registry are separate measures. This county's registry includes Fire Management Assistance (FM) records, which are not presidential disaster declarations, alongside Major Disaster (DR) and Emergency (EM) records.
FEMA OpenFEMA declaration desk
County FIPS 35001 · Bernalillo County 11 declarations · rank 2864/3,266
DECL-MID · MAJOR-LIGHT · RANK-LOWER · PHOTO-FINISH · NRI-HIGH · ACT-HIGH · TYPE-LEAD · VS-ST-BELOW
- DECL-MID 11
- MAJOR-LIGHT 36%
- RANK-LOWER #2,864
- PHOTO-FINISH Meeker
- NRI-HIGH 94
- ACT-HIGH High
- TYPE-LEAD Fire
- VS-ST-BELOW -12%
Nearest declaration peer: Meeker, MN (0 declaration gap)
FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 filing stamps for this county register. Read with this county → · New Mexico state profile
Bernalillo County among counties with fewer federal records
FEMA declaration records among Bernalillo County and nearest peers by total count
- Los Angeles · largest
Los Angeles · largest
88 declarations
- Bernalillo · this county 11
Bernalillo · this county
11 declarations
- Davis · near 11
Davis · near
11 declarations
- Meeker · near 11
Meeker · near
11 declarations
- Wasatch · near 11
Wasatch · near
11 declarations
- Ujelang · smallest 1
Ujelang · smallest
1 declarations
What this shows Bernalillo County carries 11 FEMA declaration records, ranked 2864 of 3,266 counties in this registry.
Bernalillo County versus quieter counties in this dataset
Bernalillo County among lower-declaration counties nationally
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time · Bernalillo County
11 12th percentile higher than 12% of 3,266 counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 · 2026-08-25
Bernalillo County's FEMA Risk Index score
Which hazard drives modeled loss here?
FEMA's modeled annual dollar loss for Bernalillo County is led by Riverine Flooding (about $93.2M Expected Annual Loss, Historical Loss Ratio Relatively Moderate), while Winter Weather carries the highest National Risk Index rating (Very High). EAL and risk score use different inputs; they need not agree.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025 release) - Expected Annual Loss vs composite risk rating by hazard.
What does Bernalillo County's hazard record show?
Reading the federal records together
The NFIP claims register shows a middle-volume loss record here: 173 paid claims, totaling $1.4M. PlainHazard uses 50-499 claims for this descriptive band; FEMA does not publish it as a safety or coverage category. The $8.3K average describes payments on recorded claims only, leaving uninsured damage and properties without a claim outside the measure.
Start with the state benchmark: a New Mexico county averages 12.5 federal declaration records, while Bernalillo County has 11. The gap is 12% below that mean. Fewer entries indicate a quieter history of recorded federal actions, not immunity from a hazard and not a prediction about what happens next.
FEMA National Risk Index
This county sits among the highest-risk counties nationally on FEMA's National Risk Index, a composite score of 94.4/100 (Relatively High). Expected Annual Loss is rated Relatively Moderate (roughly $153.9M in annualized losses). Social vulnerability reads Relatively Moderate and community resilience Relatively Moderate, both critical modifiers of realized harm here. Of the 18 hazards FEMA models, Winter Weather stands out as the sharpest exposure here, rated Very High. FEMA's modeled frequency puts that hazard at an average of 9.5 times per year here, based on 181 historical events on record.
38 /100
Historical Activity Index
Moderate historical activity
Bernalillo County, NM · PlainHazard-derived composite from federal records
This 0–100 index is an explicit PlainHazard composite from FEMA declaration history only on the county surface (this DB has no county-level NOAA damage row) . It is not FEMA's National Risk Index, not a forecast, and not a safety, insurance, or preparedness rating. Open the calculator · Methodology
FEMA Declarations (1953–present) Moderate
8/30
11 OpenFEMA declarations, full ingest window (0.5x national county average)
County Disaster Density Moderate
11/25
11 declarations (0.9x state county average of 12)
Major Disaster Share Moderate
9/25
4 of 11 declarations are major disasters (36%)
Hazard Diversity High
10/20
4 different disaster types declared in Bernalillo County
FEMA NRI 8-hazard radar - Bernalillo County
How to read this radar
Each axis: NRI risk rating (Very Low-Very High) on a 0-100 scale. Rounder = broad exposure; spiky = one or two hazards dominate.
Major Disaster share
36%
Mixed major share
NRI risk score
94
Relatively High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Per-county per-hazard ratings, December 2025 release
How often does each hazard strike Bernalillo County?
FEMA's National Risk Index models a historical event count and an annualized frequency for each hazard type. Most hazards are expressed as modeled occurrences per year; FEMA expresses drought and heat-wave frequency as event-days per year. These modeled frequencies are not forecasts.
| Hazard | NRI Risk Rating | Recurrence |
|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather | Very High | an average of 9.5 times per year |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 234 years |
| Lightning | Very High | an average of 60 times per year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively High | an average of 2.1 times per year |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 2 modeled event-days per year |
| Hail | Relatively High | roughly once every 1 years |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 546 years |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 4 years |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 41 years |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 66 modeled event-days per year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | roughly once every 15 years |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | roughly once every 12 years |
| Landslide | Very Low | roughly once every 4 years |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | roughly once every 10,000 years |
| Avalanche | Very Low | roughly once every 100 years |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Modeled annualized frequency; drought and heat wave use event-days/year, December 2025 release
Disaster Types
Fire 6
Biological 2
Severe Storm 2
Hurricane 1
What Fire declarations mean here
Fire is the most frequent declaration type on Bernalillo County's record, 55% of its declarations. Wildfire is the one hazard here with its own dedicated federal instrument: the Fire Management Assistance Grant, which appears in this data as an FM record. An FMAG can be authorised while a fire is still burning, on a timescale of hours, because its purpose is to reimburse the cost of fighting a fire that threatens to become a major disaster.
That distinction matters when comparing counties. An FM declaration is not a presidential major disaster declaration and does not carry the same assistance programmes, so a fire-heavy county's total is not directly comparable with a hurricane-heavy county's total unless the declaration types are separated, which is why they are listed separately on this page.
Declaration counts describe past federal action. They are a record of what was declared, not a forecast of future hazard probability.
Declaration Types
What DR / EM / FM mean
FEMA categorizes declarations as Major Disasters (DR), Emergencies (EM), or Fire Management Assistance (FM).
Major Disaster - 4 36.4%
of all 11 declarations
Fire Management - 4 36.4%
of all 11 declarations
Emergency - 3 27.3%
of all 11 declarations
FEMA Declarations Timeline
| Year | Declarations | |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | |
| 2016 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 1 | |
| 2011 | 1 | |
| 2006 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 1 | |
| 2004 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 1 | |
| 2000 | 2 | |
Disaster Declarations
How the 11 FEMA declarations break into federal action codes (DR / EM / FM). Same DISTINCT grain as the table below.
Download these 11 declarations as CSV . FEMA source data is public domain; our derived presentation is CC0.
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4529 | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR | Biological | 2020-04-05 |
| 3460 | COVID-19 | EM | Biological | 2020-03-13 |
| 5127 | DOG HEAD FIRE | FM | Fire | 2016-06-16 |
| 4148 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2013-09-30 |
| 2880 | WHITE FIRE | FM | Fire | 2011-04-03 |
| 2644 | MALPAIS FIRE | FM | Fire | 2006-06-16 |
| 3229 | HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION | EM | Hurricane | 2005-09-07 |
| 1514 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2004-04-29 |
| 2472 | NM-BOSQUE FIRE-06-25-2003 | FM | Fire | 2003-06-25 |
| 1329 | SEVERE FOREST FIRE | DR | Fire | 2000-05-13 |
| 3154 | SEVERE FIRE THREATS | EM | Fire | 2000-05-10 |
Storm Events in New Mexico
Statewide NOAA context only. PlainHazard does not currently attribute these state totals to Bernalillo County.
| Storm Type | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 3,382 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| High Wind | 2,351 | 0 | 3 | $18.9M |
| Hail | 1,669 | 1 | 24 | $17.2M |
| Heavy Snow | 986 | 6 | 72 | $2.5M |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 952 | 1 | 13 | $25.1M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database State-level aggregated data, 2015-2025
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Total Claims
173
Total Paid
$1.4M
Avg Per Claim
$8.3K
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Score: 94.4/100
Expected Annual Loss
Relatively Moderate
$153.9M/year
Social Vulnerability
Relatively Moderate
Community Resilience
Relatively Moderate
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Winter Weather Very High
Earthquake Relatively Moderate
Lightning Very High
Riverine Flooding Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively High
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Tornado Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Volcanic Activity Very Low
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) Ratings reflect relative scores among all US counties. Data: hazards.fema.gov/nri
The model's sharpest exposure here: Winter Weather
Winter Weather in the model means the accumulation of snow and cold that disrupts rather than destroys: road closures, roof loads, burst pipes and lost heating. Its costs land heavily on transport and on households least able to absorb an interruption.
Worth noting for Bernalillo County: the model and the federal record do NOT point at the same hazard. Winter Weather carries the highest modeled rating (Very High), while the county's declaration history is led by Fire. That is not a contradiction, the two measure genuinely different things. Declarations record federal ACTION, which requires damage costly enough to exceed state and local capacity; the Risk Index models EXPECTED annual loss across all 18 hazards whether or not any declaration ever followed. A hazard can be the county's largest modeled exposure and never once have driven a declaration.
National Risk Index ratings are modeled estimates of expected annual loss, not predictions of what will happen in any given year.
Data-matched county comparisons
Bernalillo County's closest FEMA peer: Del Norte County, CA
Comparisons use published FEMA declaration fields plus the National Risk Index composite for Bernalillo County. Record similarity, not a safety rating.
Similar modeled NRI score
Bernalillo County: NRI composite 94.4 (Relatively High).
Similar Major-disaster share
Bernalillo County: 4 of 11 of its declarations are Major.
Closest declaration profiles
Bernalillo County shows 11 FEMA declarations, led by Fire.
How these peers are chosen
Cohort: Published U.S. county equivalents outside the source state or territory. Each metric keeps six ETL candidates; three unique destinations are shown after de-duplicating across axes. Declaration-volume ranking combines count and Major-disaster share and prefers a different leading incident type; Major-share ranks the Major fraction adjusted for volume; NRI ranks the modeled composite score only.
Retained FEMA snapshot feed for Bernalillo County - capture-dated entries only.
Compare beyond this state
Nationwide peers by NRI score & FEMA declaration volume
Two PlainHazard-derived comparison paths for Bernalillo County: nearest out-of-state National Risk Index composite and nearest FEMA declaration count (floor ≥5 records). Record similarity only, not a forecast of the next hazard.
Similar NRI composite
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA NRI score. This county: 94.4 (Relatively High).
Similar declaration volume
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA declaration count. This county: 11. NRI peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Further reading for this county
Understanding disaster data
Bernalillo County's NFIP claims file (173 claims) and FEMA declaration history measure different federal records - this guide separates them from modeled NRI risk.
More PlainHazard guides
- Most disaster-prone counties - U.S. counties ranked by FEMA declaration totals.
- Understanding disaster data - declarations vs storm events vs NRI scores.
- Preparing for natural disasters - household checklist (not county-specific advice).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common disaster type in Bernalillo County?
The most common disaster type in Bernalillo County is Fire, with 6 declarations. Other disaster types include Biological (2), Severe Storm (2), Hurricane (1).
How does Bernalillo County's FEMA declaration record compare with the New Mexico average?
The typical New Mexico county has 12.5 FEMA declaration records; Bernalillo County has 11, or 12% fewer. Against the national county mean of 20.7, this county's total is 47% lower. The comparison is historical and says nothing about the probability of a future event.
How many major FEMA disaster declarations has Bernalillo County received?
Bernalillo County has received 4 major disaster declarations, representing 36% of all 11 disaster declarations.
How many flood insurance claims has Bernalillo County filed?
Bernalillo County has 173 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims totaling $1.4M in payments, with an average of $8.3K per claim.
Does FEMA's top risk-rated hazard match the highest Expected Annual Loss in Bernalillo County?
No. In Bernalillo County, Winter Weather has the highest National Risk Index rating (Very High), while Riverine Flooding leads Expected Annual Loss at about $93.2M. FEMA's risk score and dollar-loss model use different inputs, so the leaders often differ.
What was the worst year for disasters in Bernalillo County?
The most active year for disaster declarations in Bernalillo County was 2000, with 2 declarations. The county has FEMA disaster data spanning 2000 to 2020.
What is the FEMA National Risk Index score for Bernalillo County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Bernalillo County, New Mexico has an overall risk score of 94.4 out of 100 (Relatively High). Social vulnerability here rates Relatively Moderate, while community resilience comes in at Relatively Moderate. The Expected Annual Loss (EAL) score is Relatively Moderate, representing $153.9M in annualized losses.
Which natural hazard poses the greatest risk to Bernalillo County?
The top hazard flagged by FEMA's NRI for Bernalillo County as of the latest release is Winter Weather (risk rating: Very High). Other significant hazards include Earthquake (Relatively Moderate) and Lightning (Very High). FEMA's modeled event frequency puts winter weather here at an average of 9.5 times per year, drawn from 181 historical events on record. These scores are based on FEMA's analysis of historical event frequency, exposed assets, and community vulnerability.
Data Sources & Methodology
Disaster declaration data comes from the FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 API, which includes all federally declared disasters, emergencies, and fire management assistance grants.
Storm event data is sourced from the NOAA Storm Events Database (2015-2025), which tracks significant weather events including thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, and winter storms.
Flood insurance data comes from the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA claims dataset.
This data is provided for informational purposes only. FEMA disaster declarations represent federal response actions and may not capture all local emergencies or weather events.
FEMA OpenFEMA declarations + NRI for Bernalillo County · vintage 2026-08-25 · Methodology · New Mexico profile · Verify with FEMA OpenFEMA · Verify with NOAA Storm Events