FEMA Records
21
Above median
New Mexico · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Sandoval County, NM
21 FEMA disaster declarations (1973-2022), with a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low. Most common hazard: Fire.
- 21
- FEMA declarations
- 11
- Major disasters
- 77
- NRI risk · Relatively Low
- Fire
- Top hazard
The verdict
Two federal records point in the busier direction for Sandoval County. Its 21 FEMA declarations are 69% above the New Mexico county mean and exceed the count for 52% of the 3,266 counties in this registry. Separately, FEMA's National Risk Index places it in the riskiest 23%, based on modeled expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
- Riskiest 23%
- of U.S. counties for FEMA National Risk Index score
- Relatively Low
- FEMA National Risk Index rating
- 21
- FEMA declarations vs 21 national county avg
- 51
- 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 35043 · Sandoval County 21 declarations · rank 1444/3,266
DECL-HEAVY · MAJOR-MID · RANK-LOWER · PHOTO-FINISH · NRI-LOW · ACT-HIGH · TYPE-LEAD · VS-ST-HIGH
- DECL-HEAVY 21
- MAJOR-MID 52%
- RANK-LOWER #1,444
- PHOTO-FINISH Montgomery
- NRI-LOW 77
- ACT-HIGH High
- TYPE-LEAD Fire
- VS-ST-HIGH +69%
Nearest declaration peer: Montgomery, IN (0 declaration gap)
FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 filing stamps for this county register. Read with this county → · New Mexico state profile
Sandoval County in the declaration-count neighbourhood
FEMA declaration records among Sandoval County and nearest peers by total count
- Los Angeles · largest
Los Angeles · largest
88 declarations
- Atascosa · near 21
Atascosa · near
21 declarations
- Mason · near 21
Mason · near
21 declarations
- Montgomery · near 21
Montgomery · near
21 declarations
- Sandoval · this county 21
Sandoval · this county
21 declarations
- Ujelang · smallest 1
Ujelang · smallest
1 declarations
What this shows Sandoval County carries 21 FEMA declaration records, ranked 1444 of 3,266 counties in this registry.
How Sandoval County's FEMA declaration count compares nationally
Sandoval County vs. all counties in this dataset
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time · Sandoval County
21 Top 48% higher than 52% 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
Sandoval County's FEMA Risk Index score
Which hazard drives modeled loss here?
FEMA's modeled annual dollar loss for Sandoval County is led by Riverine Flooding (about $21.0M Expected Annual Loss, Historical Loss Ratio Relatively Low), while Landslide carries the highest National Risk Index rating (Relatively Moderate). 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 Sandoval County's hazard record show?
Reading the federal records together
The NFIP claims register shows a middle-volume loss record here: 51 paid claims, totaling $359.1K. PlainHazard uses 50-499 claims for this descriptive band; FEMA does not publish it as a safety or coverage category. The $7.0K average describes payments on recorded claims only, leaving uninsured damage and properties without a claim outside the measure.
The declaration register points in the busier direction. Sandoval County's 21 federal records stand 69% 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.
FEMA National Risk Index
This county sits among the highest-risk counties nationally on FEMA's National Risk Index, a composite score of 77.0/100 (Relatively Low). Expected Annual Loss is rated Relatively Low (roughly $31.5M in annualized losses). Social vulnerability reads Relatively Moderate and community resilience Relatively Moderate, both critical modifiers of realized harm here. Among the 18 modeled hazards, Landslide carries the county's highest rating, a mid-range Relatively Moderate. FEMA's modeled frequency puts that hazard at an average of 1.9 times per year here.
64 /100
Historical Activity Index
High historical activity
Sandoval 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) High
15/30
21 OpenFEMA declarations, full ingest window (1.0x national county average)
County Disaster Density Very High
21/25
21 declarations (1.7x state county average of 12)
Major Disaster Share High
13/25
11 of 21 declarations are major disasters (52%)
Hazard Diversity Very High
15/20
6 different disaster types declared in Sandoval County
FEMA NRI 8-hazard radar - Sandoval 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
52%
Major-heavy
NRI risk score
77
Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Per-county per-hazard ratings, December 2025 release
How often does each hazard strike Sandoval 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | an average of 1.9 times per year |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 510 years |
| Lightning | Relatively High | an average of 65 times per year |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | roughly once every 341 years |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | an average of 2.4 times per year |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 0.7 modeled event-days per year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | an average of 18 times per year |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 2 years |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 127 modeled event-days per year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | roughly once every 5 years |
| Avalanche | Very Low | roughly once every 100 years |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | roughly once every 18 years |
| Tornado | Very Low | roughly once every 5 years |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | roughly once every 67 years |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | roughly once every 10,000 years |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Modeled annualized frequency; drought and heat wave use event-days/year, December 2025 release
Disaster Types
Fire 9
Severe Storm 4
Flood 4
Biological 2
Hurricane 1
Drought 1
What Fire declarations mean here
Fire is the most frequent declaration type on Sandoval County's record, 43% 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 - 11 52.4%
of all 21 declarations
Fire Management - 6 28.6%
of all 21 declarations
Emergency - 4 19.0%
of all 21 declarations
FEMA Declarations Timeline
| Year | Declarations | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 2 | |
| 2017 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 1 | |
| 2014 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 1 | |
| 2012 | 3 | |
| 2011 | 1 | |
| 2010 | 2 | |
| 2006 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 1 | |
| 2002 | 1 | |
| 2000 | 2 | |
| 1999 | 1 | |
| 1977 | 1 | |
Show 1 earlier declaration years
| 1973 | 1 | |
Disaster Declarations
How the 21 FEMA declarations break into federal action codes (DR / EM / FM). Same DISTINCT grain as the table below.
Download these 21 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 |
| 4529 | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR | Biological | 2020-04-05 |
| 3460 | COVID-19 | EM | Biological | 2020-03-13 |
| 5184 | EL CAJETE FIRE | FM | Fire | 2017-06-15 |
| 4197 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2014-10-06 |
| 4152 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND MUDSLIDES | DR | Flood | 2013-10-29 |
| 4148 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2013-09-30 |
| 4079 | FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2012-08-24 |
| 2982 | ROMERO FIRE | FM | Fire | 2012-06-20 |
| 4047 | FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2011-11-23 |
| 2933 | LAS CONCHAS FIRE | FM | Fire | 2011-06-26 |
| 2843 | RIO FIRE | FM | Fire | 2010-06-02 |
| 2842 | CABAZON FIRE | FM | Fire | 2010-05-24 |
| 1659 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2006-08-30 |
| 3229 | HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION | EM | Hurricane | 2005-09-07 |
| 2459 | NM - LAKES FIRE COMPLEX - 08/26/02 | FM | Fire | 2002-08-26 |
| 1329 | SEVERE FOREST FIRE | DR | Fire | 2000-05-13 |
| 3154 | SEVERE FIRE THREATS | EM | Fire | 2000-05-10 |
| 1301 | SEVERE ICE STORMS, FLOODING AND HEAVY RAINS | DR | Severe Storm | 1999-09-22 |
| 3034 | DROUGHT | EM | Drought | 1977-03-02 |
Show 1 earlier declaration records
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 380 | SEVERE STORMS, SNOW MELT & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1973-05-11 |
Storm Events in New Mexico
Statewide NOAA context only. PlainHazard does not currently attribute these state totals to Sandoval 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
51
Total Paid
$359.1K
Avg Per Claim
$7.0K
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Score: 77.0/100
Expected Annual Loss
Relatively Low
$31.5M/year
Social Vulnerability
Relatively Moderate
Community Resilience
Relatively Moderate
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively High
Earthquake Relatively Low
Riverine Flooding Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Avalanche Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Tornado Very Low
Ice Storm Very Low
Volcanic Activity 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: Landslide
Landslide risk is a function of slope, soil and water, so it is usually a SECOND-ORDER hazard: it is triggered by the rainfall, snowmelt, wildfire burn scars or seismic shaking that came first. That is why a county can carry high landslide exposure whose realized damage is recorded under a flood or storm declaration instead.
Worth noting for Sandoval County: the model and the federal record do NOT point at the same hazard. Landslide carries the highest modeled rating (Relatively Moderate), 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
Sandoval County's closest FEMA peer: Florida Municipio, PR
Comparisons use published FEMA declaration fields plus the National Risk Index composite for Sandoval County. Record similarity, not a safety rating.
Closest declaration profiles
Sandoval County shows 21 FEMA declarations, led by Fire.
Similar Major-disaster share
Sandoval County: 11 of 21 of its declarations are Major.
Similar modeled NRI score
Sandoval County: NRI composite 77.0 (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 Sandoval County - capture-dated entries only.
Compare beyond this state
Nationwide peers by NRI score & FEMA declaration volume
Two PlainHazard-derived comparison paths for Sandoval 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: 77.0 (Relatively Low).
Similar declaration volume
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA declaration count. This county: 21. NRI peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Further reading for this county
Understanding disaster data
Sandoval County's NFIP claims file (51 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 Sandoval County?
The most common disaster type in Sandoval County is Fire, with 9 declarations. Other disaster types include Severe Storm (4), Flood (4), Biological (2).
How does Sandoval County's FEMA declaration record compare with the New Mexico average?
FEMA lists 21 declaration records for Sandoval County. That is 69% above the New Mexico county mean of 12.5. Its count is also 1% above 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 Sandoval County received?
Sandoval County has received 11 major disaster declarations, representing 52% of all 21 disaster declarations.
How many flood insurance claims has Sandoval County filed?
Sandoval County has 51 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims totaling $359.1K in payments, with an average of $7.0K per claim.
Does FEMA's top risk-rated hazard match the highest Expected Annual Loss in Sandoval County?
No. In Sandoval County, Landslide has the highest National Risk Index rating (Relatively Moderate), while Riverine Flooding leads Expected Annual Loss at about $21.0M. FEMA's risk score and dollar-loss model use different inputs, so the leaders often differ.
What was the worst year for disasters in Sandoval County?
The most active year for disaster declarations in Sandoval County was 2012, with 3 declarations. The county has FEMA disaster data spanning 1973 to 2022.
What is the FEMA National Risk Index score for Sandoval County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Sandoval County, New Mexico has an overall risk score of 77.0 out of 100 (Relatively Low). Social vulnerability here rates Relatively Moderate, while community resilience comes in at Relatively Moderate. The Expected Annual Loss (EAL) score is Relatively Low, representing $31.5M in annualized losses.
Which natural hazard poses the greatest risk to Sandoval County?
Based on FEMA NRI data, the highest-risk natural hazard in Sandoval County as of the latest release is Landslide (risk rating: Relatively Moderate). Other significant hazards include Wildfire (Relatively Moderate) and Lightning (Relatively High). FEMA's modeled event frequency puts landslide here at an average of 1.9 times per year. 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 Sandoval County · vintage 2026-08-25 · Methodology · New Mexico profile · Verify with FEMA OpenFEMA · Verify with NOAA Storm Events