Photo: TheNewMexicoPost · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Corrales faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Corrales gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #24 of 73 in New Mexico. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then earthquakes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1980.
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 Corrales 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 Corrales’ grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Corrales, and Corrales’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 4%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #24 of 73 in New Mexico; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Corrales’ residents live in 2 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, Corrales has less expected damage per building than 68% of New Mexico towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across Corrales: $3.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Corrales flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Corrales, from FEMA’s records: 2.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Corrales isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sandoval County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Corrales
Disasters that paid out in Corrales itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Corrales), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$140K to the Village of Corrales for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$310K to the Village of Corrales for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$132K to the Village of Corrales for repairs
Sandoval County has had 12 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 6 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Sandoval County, 2002–2017.
Old photos of Corrales after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Corrales archive →Corrales and its neighbors
Corrales is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Rancho | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Albuquerque | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 48 |
| Corrales | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
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 Corrales 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 Corrales
Is Corrales at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Corrales has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #24 of 73 in New Mexico. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Corrales flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Corrales since 1980, $212K in all, or 2.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Corrales 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 Sandoval County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Corrales?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Corrales’ 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 Corrales?
By FEMA money that reached Corrales, Severe Storms and Flooding (2013): $310K to the Village of Corrales for repairs.
Is Corrales at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Corrales’ rate for it is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Corrales.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Corrales’ 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.