Rio Arriba County
New Mexico — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 81th
Rio Arriba County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 80.5, 81th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $27M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $3M |
| Landslide | Medium | 2.59 / yr | $78K |
| Lightning | High | 65.43 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.18 / yr | $20M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $954K |
| Drought | Medium | 106.28 / yr | $326K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 23.52 / yr | $36K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $179 |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.05 / yr | $265K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.23 / yr | $85K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.29 / yr | $65K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $62K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.23 / yr | $53K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $3K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Rio Arriba County?
Rio Arriba County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 80.5 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 81th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Rio Arriba County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Medium, $3M EAL), Landslide (Medium, $78K EAL), Lightning (High, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Rio Arriba County compare to other New Mexico counties?
Rio Arriba County ranks #11 of 33 New Mexico counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a 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. Rio Arriba County's $27M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.