Sandoval County
New Mexico — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 77th
Sandoval County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 77.0, 77th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $32M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 1.93 / yr | $90K |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | High | 65.14 / yr | $1M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $4M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 2.36 / yr | $21M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 0.74 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 18.42 / yr | $172K |
| Hail | Medium | 0.52 / yr | $582K |
| Drought | Medium | 127.10 / yr | $528K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.20 / yr | $353K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $147 |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.06 / yr | $262K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.19 / yr | $283K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $11K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| 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 Sandoval County?
Sandoval County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 77.0 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 77th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Sandoval County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $90K EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $2M EAL), Lightning (High, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Sandoval County compare to other New Mexico counties?
Sandoval County ranks #14 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. Sandoval County's $32M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.