Quay County

New Mexico — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

26.0

National percentile: 26th

Quay County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 26.0, 26th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $6M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $6M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Low Capacity to recover
Population 9K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Drought
Medium $1M/yr
Wildfire
Low $486K/yr
Winter Weather
Medium $150K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Drought Medium 108.41 / yr $1M
Wildfire Low 0.01 / yr $486K
Winter Weather Medium 10.60 / yr $150K
Strong Wind Medium 0.99 / yr $428K
Riverine Flood Low 0.68 / yr $3M
Lightning Low 50.53 / yr $96K
Hail Very Low 2.37 / yr $85K
Heat Wave Very Low 2.26 / yr $91K
Cold Wave Very Low 0.53 / yr $172K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $15K
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Landslide Very Low 0.42 / yr $35
Tornado Very Low 0.67 / yr $73K
Ice Storm Very Low 0.28 / yr $5K
Avalanche Very Low 0.01 / yr $1
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 Quay County?

Quay County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 26.0 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 26th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Quay County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $1M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $486K EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $150K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Quay County compare to other New Mexico counties?

Quay County ranks #27 of 33 New Mexico counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low 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. Quay County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.