FEMA Records
18
Below median
New Mexico · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Colfax County, NM
18 FEMA disaster declarations (1965-2022), with a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low. Most common hazard: Fire.
- 18
- FEMA declarations
- 7
- Major disasters
- 58
- NRI risk · Relatively Low
- Fire
- Top hazard
The verdict
Two federal records point in the busier direction for Colfax County. Its 18 FEMA declarations are 45% above the New Mexico county mean and exceed the count for 37% of the 3,266 counties in this registry. Separately, FEMA's National Risk Index places it in the riskiest 42%, based on modeled expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
- Riskiest 42%
- of U.S. counties for FEMA National Risk Index score
- Relatively Low
- FEMA National Risk Index rating
- 18
- FEMA declarations vs 21 national county avg
- 8
- 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 35007 · Colfax County 18 declarations · rank 1950/3,266
DECL-MID · MAJOR-LIGHT · RANK-LOWER · PHOTO-FINISH · NRI-LOW · ACT-HIGH · TYPE-LEAD · VS-ST-ABOVE
- DECL-MID 18
- MAJOR-LIGHT 39%
- RANK-LOWER #1,950
- PHOTO-FINISH Monroe
- NRI-LOW 58
- ACT-HIGH High
- TYPE-LEAD Fire
- VS-ST-ABOVE +45%
Nearest declaration peer: Monroe, TN (0 declaration gap)
FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 filing stamps for this county register. Read with this county → · New Mexico state profile
Colfax County in the declaration-count neighbourhood
FEMA declaration records among Colfax County and nearest peers by total count
- Los Angeles · largest
Los Angeles · largest
88 declarations
- Brooke · near 18
Brooke · near
18 declarations
- Colfax · this county 18
Colfax · this county
18 declarations
- Mecklenburg · near 18
Mecklenburg · near
18 declarations
- Monroe · near 18
Monroe · near
18 declarations
- Ujelang · smallest 1
Ujelang · smallest
1 declarations
What this shows Colfax County carries 18 FEMA declaration records, ranked 1950 of 3,266 counties in this registry.
How Colfax County's FEMA declaration count compares nationally
Colfax County vs. all counties in this dataset
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time · Colfax County
18 37th percentile higher than 37% 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
Colfax County's FEMA Risk Index score
What does Colfax County's hazard record show?
FEMA National Risk Index
This county carries a high composite score on FEMA's National Risk Index, 58.5/100, rated Relatively Low. Its Expected Annual Loss rating is Very Low (roughly $12.6M in annualized losses), and a Very High social-vulnerability profile combined with Relatively Low community resilience shapes how much of that raw exposure becomes realized harm. Among the 18 modeled hazards, Wildfire carries the county's highest rating, a mid-range Relatively Moderate. FEMA's modeled frequency puts that hazard at roughly once every 184 years here.
Reading the federal records together
This county has a small entry in FEMA's NFIP paid-claims table: 8 claims and $13.0K paid in total. PlainHazard calls 1-49 claims a light registry record, a label for this dataset rather than a finding that flood exposure is low. A short claims history can also reflect insurance take-up, the period covered, or losses that were never insured.
The declaration register points in the busier direction. Colfax County's 18 federal records stand 45% above the New Mexico county mean of 12.5. That comparison describes how often federal action was recorded, including any Major Disaster, Emergency, and Fire Management entries shown on this page; it does not convert the count into future probability.
56 /100
Historical Activity Index
High historical activity
Colfax 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
13/30
18 OpenFEMA declarations, full ingest window (0.9x national county average)
County Disaster Density High
18/25
18 declarations (1.4x state county average of 12)
Major Disaster Share Moderate
10/25
7 of 18 declarations are major disasters (39%)
Hazard Diversity Very High
15/20
6 different disaster types declared in Colfax County
FEMA NRI 8-hazard radar - Colfax 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
39%
Mixed major share
NRI risk score
58
Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Per-county per-hazard ratings, December 2025 release
How often does each hazard strike Colfax 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 184 years |
| Lightning | Relatively High | an average of 68 times per year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | an average of 20 times per year |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | an average of 1.9 times per year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | an average of 1.2 times per year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | an average of 1.3 times per year |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 163 modeled event-days per year |
| Avalanche | Very Low | roughly once every 30 years |
| Earthquake | Very Low | roughly once every 1,282 years |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | roughly once every 3 years |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0 modeled event-days per year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | roughly once every 6 years |
| Tornado | Very Low | roughly once every 2 years |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | roughly once every 67 years |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Modeled annualized frequency; drought and heat wave use event-days/year, December 2025 release
Disaster Types
Fire 9
Flood 3
Biological 2
Severe Storm 2
Hurricane 1
Drought 1
What Fire declarations mean here
Fire is the most frequent declaration type on Colfax County's record, 50% 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 - 7 38.9%
of all 18 declarations
Fire Management - 7 38.9%
of all 18 declarations
Emergency - 4 22.2%
of all 18 declarations
FEMA Declarations Timeline
| Year | Declarations | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2 | |
| 2020 | 2 | |
| 2018 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 1 | |
| 2014 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 1 | |
| 2011 | 1 | |
| 2006 | 2 | |
| 2005 | 1 | |
| 2002 | 2 | |
| 2000 | 1 | |
| 1977 | 1 | |
| 1973 | 1 | |
| 1965 | 1 | |
Disaster Declarations
How the 18 FEMA declarations break into federal action codes (DR / EM / FM). Same DISTINCT grain as the table below.
Download these 18 declarations as CSV . FEMA source data is public domain; our derived presentation is CC0.
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4652 | WILDFIRES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, MUDFLOWS, AND DEBRIS FLOWS | DR | Fire | 2022-05-04 |
| 5437 | COOK'S PEAK FIRE | FM | Fire | 2022-04-28 |
| 4529 | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR | Biological | 2020-04-05 |
| 3460 | COVID-19 | EM | Biological | 2020-03-13 |
| 5239 | UTE PARK FIRE | FM | Fire | 2018-06-01 |
| 4199 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2014-10-29 |
| 4152 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND MUDSLIDES | DR | Flood | 2013-10-29 |
| 4148 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2013-09-30 |
| 2918 | TRACK FIRE | FM | Fire | 2011-06-12 |
| 2647 | RIVERA MESA FIRE | FM | Fire | 2006-06-21 |
| 2631 | CASA FIRE | FM | Fire | 2006-03-01 |
| 3229 | HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION | EM | Hurricane | 2005-09-07 |
| 2416 | NM-PONIL FIRE-06/02/02 | FM | Fire | 2002-06-06 |
| 2414 | NM-TURKEY FIRE-6-2-02 | FM | Fire | 2002-06-04 |
| 3154 | SEVERE FIRE THREATS | EM | Fire | 2000-05-10 |
| 3034 | DROUGHT | EM | Drought | 1977-03-02 |
| 380 | SEVERE STORMS, SNOW MELT & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1973-05-11 |
| 202 | SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1965-07-01 |
Storm Events in New Mexico
Statewide NOAA context only. PlainHazard does not currently attribute these state totals to Colfax 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
8
Total Paid
$13.0K
Avg Per Claim
$1.6K
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Score: 58.5/100
Expected Annual Loss
Very Low
$12.6M/year
Social Vulnerability
Very High
Community Resilience
Relatively Low
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively High
Winter Weather Relatively High
Landslide Relatively Low
Riverine Flooding Relatively Low
Hail Relatively Low
Drought Relatively Low
Avalanche Very Low
Earthquake Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Heat Wave Very Low
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Tornado Very Low
Ice Storm Very Low
Volcanic Activity No Rating
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: Wildfire
Wildfire risk in the model reflects fuel, terrain, weather and how much development sits in the wildland-urban interface. It is one of the few hazards where the exposure is materially changed by land management and building choices, not only by where the county happens to be.
For Colfax County the two measures on this page point the same way: Wildfire is the county's highest-rated modeled hazard (Relatively Moderate), and Fire declarations also lead its federal record. Where the model and the declaration history agree, the reading is comparatively straightforward, the hazard is both expected and repeatedly realised.
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
Colfax County's closest FEMA peer: Mecklenburg County, NC
Comparisons use published FEMA declaration fields plus the National Risk Index composite for Colfax County. Record similarity, not a safety rating.
Closest declaration profiles
Colfax County shows 18 FEMA declarations, led by Fire.
Similar Major-disaster share
Colfax County: 7 of 18 of its declarations are Major.
Similar modeled NRI score
Colfax County: NRI composite 58.5 (Relatively Low).
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 Colfax County - capture-dated entries only.
Compare beyond this state
Nationwide peers by NRI score & FEMA declaration volume
Two PlainHazard-derived comparison paths for Colfax 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: 58.5 (Relatively Low).
Similar declaration volume
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA declaration count. This county: 18. NRI peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Further reading for this county
Most disaster-prone counties
With 18 FEMA declarations, Colfax County sits in the high-volume declaration band - see how that count ranks against other U.S. counties.
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 Colfax County?
The most common disaster type in Colfax County is Fire, with 9 declarations. Other disaster types include Flood (3), Biological (2), Severe Storm (2).
How does Colfax County's FEMA declaration record compare with the New Mexico average?
FEMA lists 18 declaration records for Colfax County. That is 45% above the New Mexico county mean of 12.5. Its count is also 13% below the national county mean of 20.7. A larger declaration history records more federal actions; it is not a forecast of the county's next hazard.
How many major FEMA disaster declarations has Colfax County received?
Colfax County has received 7 major disaster declarations, representing 39% of all 18 disaster declarations.
How many flood insurance claims has Colfax County filed?
Colfax County has 8 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims totaling $13.0K in payments, with an average of $1.6K per claim.
What was the worst year for disasters in Colfax County?
The most active year for disaster declarations in Colfax County was 2002, with 2 declarations. The county has FEMA disaster data spanning 1965 to 2022.
What is the FEMA National Risk Index score for Colfax County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Colfax County, New Mexico has an overall risk score of 58.5 out of 100 (Relatively Low). The county's social vulnerability rating is Very High and community resilience is Relatively Low. The Expected Annual Loss (EAL) score is Very Low, representing $12.6M in annualized losses.
Which natural hazard poses the greatest risk to Colfax County?
The top hazard flagged by FEMA's NRI for Colfax County as of the latest release is Wildfire (risk rating: Relatively Moderate). Other significant hazards include Lightning (Relatively High) and Winter Weather (Relatively High). FEMA's modeled event frequency puts wildfire here at roughly once every 184 years. FEMA derives these ratings from historical event frequency, the assets exposed, and the community's vulnerability profile.
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 Colfax County · vintage 2026-08-25 · Methodology · New Mexico profile · Verify with FEMA OpenFEMA · Verify with NOAA Storm Events