Belen Hotel · Photo: AzaniahT · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Belen faces more hazard damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Belen gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #53 of 73 in New Mexico. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%), then earthquakes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 23 claims here since 1988.
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 Belen 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 Belen’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Belen, and Belen’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 13% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
D #53 of 73 in New Mexico; higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Belen’s residents live in 6 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, Belen has more expected damage per building than 72% of New Mexico towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.9M a year in losses across Belen: $3.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Belen flood? Sometimes: 23 flood claims since 1988
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Belen, from FEMA’s records: 7.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Belen isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Valencia County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Belen
Disasters that paid out in Belen itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Belen), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Wildfires, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Mudflows, and Debris Flows64 households applied for aid$800 aid approved
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$575K to the City of Belen for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
Valencia County has had 5 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 7 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Valencia County, 2000–2025.
Old photos of Belen after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Belen archive →Belen and its neighbors
Belen has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belen | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Los Chaves | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Jarales | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Sausal | — | 602 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Pueblitos | — | 595 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 Belen 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Belen
Is Belen at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Belen has higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #53 of 73 in New Mexico. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and earthquakes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Belen flood?
Flood insurance has paid 23 claims in Belen since 1988, $421K in all, or 7.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Belen 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 Valencia County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 6.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Belen?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Belen’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Belen?
By FEMA money that reached Belen, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): $575K to the City of Belen for repairs.
Is Belen at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Belen’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Belen.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Belen’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.