New Mexico natural disasters & FEMA declarations
NM · 7th most declarations of 51 states/DC
New Mexico has had 125 federally declared disasters since 1955, the 7th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Fire (75 declarations, about 60% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides" (Flood), on Jul 22, 2025.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for New Mexico, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Fire | 75 | 60% |
| Flood | 23 | 18% |
| Biological | 13 | 10% |
| Severe Storm | 12 | 10% |
| Hurricane | 1 | 1% |
| Drought | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 70 |
| Major Disaster (DR) | 38 |
| Emergency (EM) | 17 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How New Mexico's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 2 |
| 1960s | 1 |
| 1970s | 9 |
| 1980s | 3 |
| 1990s | 7 |
| 2000s | 36 |
| 2010s | 32 |
| 2020s | 35 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2025 | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides | Flood | DR-4886-NM |
| Jul 10, 2025 | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides | Flood | EM-3628-NM |
| Jun 22, 2025 | Cotton 2 Fire | Fire | FM-5594-NM |
| Jun 21, 2025 | Desert Willow Fire Complex | Fire | FM-5593-NM |
| Jun 16, 2025 | Trout Fire | Fire | FM-5588-NM |
| Apr 18, 2025 | Rio Grande Fire | Fire | FM-5579-NM |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near New Mexico
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to New Mexico in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has New Mexico had?
New Mexico has had 125 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1955, the 7th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in New Mexico?
The most common federally declared disaster type in New Mexico is "Fire", with 75 declarations — about 60% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in New Mexico?
The most recent FEMA declaration in New Mexico in this snapshot was "Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides" (Flood), declared Jul 22, 2025.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18