Photo: Rr0044 · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Española faces more hazard damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Española gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #60 of 73 in New Mexico. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1981.
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 Española 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
Wildfire
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 Española’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Española, and Española’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 8%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #60 of 73 in New Mexico; higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Española’s residents live in 7 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, Española has more expected damage per building than 82% of New Mexico towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.1M a year in losses across Española: $5.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Española flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Española, 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.
Española isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Rio Arriba County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Española
Disasters that paid out in Española itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Española), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2014Severe Storms and Flooding$6K to the City of Española for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Extreme Cold Temperatures$36K to the City of Española for repairs
Rio Arriba County has had 11 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 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Rio Arriba County, 2002–2011.
Old photos of Española after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Española archive →Española and its neighbors
Española is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuartelez | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Española | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Ohkay Owingeh | Dmore damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Santa Cruz | — | 228 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Sombrillo | — | 168 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 Española 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.
- 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.
- 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 Española
Is Española at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Española has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #60 of 73 in New Mexico. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and wildfire (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Española flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Española since 1981, $2K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Española 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 Rio Arriba County, 8% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Española?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Española’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 Española?
By FEMA money that reached Española, Severe Winter Storm and Extreme Cold Temperatures (2011): $36K to the City of Española for repairs.
Is Española at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Española’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Española.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Española’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.