Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Albuquerque than in 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Albuquerque gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #13 of 73 in New Mexico. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then earthquakes (23%). Flood insurance has paid 48 claims here since 1979.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Albuquerque’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Albuquerque faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Earthquakes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Albuquerque’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Albuquerque, and Albuquerque’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 23% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #13 of 73 in New Mexico; lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Albuquerque’s residents live in 159 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New Mexico town has higher expected damage than 71% of U.S. towns; within the state, Albuquerque has less expected damage per building than 83% of New Mexico towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Albuquerque has lower expected damage per building than 86% (#58 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $117M, is the 91th largest of those 400.
Does Albuquerque flood? Sometimes: 48 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Albuquerque, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Albuquerque is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Bernalillo County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Albuquerque
Disasters that paid out in Albuquerque itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Albuquerque), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$1.4M to the City of Albuquerque for repairs13 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$878K to the City of Albuquerque for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$3.1M to the City of Albuquerque for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Bernalillo County has had 4 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 4 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Bernalillo County, 2003–2016.
Old photos of Albuquerque after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Albuquerque archive →Albuquerque and its neighbors
Albuquerque is 3rd of the 8 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirtland AFB | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | — |
| Rio Rancho | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Albuquerque | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 48 |
| Sandia Heights | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Corrales | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| South Valley | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Los Ranchos de Albuquerque | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| North Valley | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Carnuel | — | 877 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Albuquerque faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
- Albuquerque residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Albuquerque
Is Albuquerque at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Albuquerque has lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #13 of 73 in New Mexico. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and earthquakes (23%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Albuquerque flood?
Flood insurance has paid 48 claims in Albuquerque since 1979, $1.1M in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Albuquerque in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Bernalillo County, 29% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Albuquerque?
Albuquerque is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Albuquerque?
By FEMA money that reached Albuquerque, Severe Storms and Flooding (2004): $3.1M to the City of Albuquerque for repairs.
Is Albuquerque at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Albuquerque’s rate for it is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Albuquerque.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Albuquerque’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.