Bernalillo County
New Mexico — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 94th
Bernalillo County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 94.4, 94th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $154M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | Very High | 9.53 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $40M |
| Lightning | Very High | 59.77 / yr | $3M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 2.14 / yr | $93M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 1.97 / yr | $6M |
| Hail | High | 0.67 / yr | $3M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $3M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.28 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.02 / yr | $168K |
| Drought | Low | 65.60 / yr | $234K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.07 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Low | 0.08 / yr | $1M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.27 / yr | $782 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $38 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Bernalillo County?
Bernalillo County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 94.4 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 94th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Bernalillo County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (Very High, $2M EAL), Earthquake (Medium, $40M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Bernalillo County compare to other New Mexico counties?
Bernalillo County ranks #2 of 33 New Mexico counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Bernalillo County's $154M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.