Photo: Wordbuilder · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Clayton than in 82% of U.S. towns, led by wildfire
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clayton gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #47 of 73 in New Mexico. Most of that expected damage is wildfire (42%), then river and rain flooding (39%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Clayton faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Wildfire
River and rain flooding
Hail
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 Clayton’s grade
Wildfire is 42% of the building damage FEMA expects in Clayton, and Clayton’s rate of wildfire damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 14%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #47 of 73 in New Mexico; higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Clayton’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New Mexico town has higher expected damage than 71% of U.S. towns; within the state, Clayton has more expected damage per building than 64% of New Mexico towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Clayton: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Clayton flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Clayton. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
The storms Clayton remembers
None of the 4 disasters declared for Union County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Clayton itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Union County has had 4 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.
Get ready for what Clayton faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 Clayton
Is Clayton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clayton has higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #47 of 73 in New Mexico. Most of the expected damage is wildfire (42%) and river and rain flooding (39%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Clayton 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.
How much is flood insurance in Clayton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Clayton’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Clayton at risk from wildfire?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (42%), and Clayton’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Clayton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Clayton’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.