Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque faces more hazard damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, #41 of 73 in New Mexico. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then earthquakes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2010.
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 Los Ranchos de 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 Los Ranchos de Albuquerque’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, and Los Ranchos de Albuquerque’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 16% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #41 of 73 in New Mexico; higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque’s residents live in 4 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, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque has more expected damage per building than 56% of New Mexico towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.3M a year in losses across Los Ranchos de Albuquerque: $2.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Los Ranchos de Albuquerque flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2010
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bernalillo County.The storms Los Ranchos de Albuquerque remembers
None of the 4 disasters declared for Bernalillo County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Los Ranchos de Albuquerque itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20101 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county 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 Los Ranchos de Albuquerque after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Los Ranchos de Albuquerque archive →Los Ranchos de Albuquerque and its neighbors
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 48 |
| 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 |
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 Los Ranchos de 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque
Is Los Ranchos de Albuquerque at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque has higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #41 of 73 in New Mexico. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Los Ranchos de Albuquerque flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque since 2010, $100K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Los Ranchos de 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 Los Ranchos de Albuquerque?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Los Ranchos de Albuquerque’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Los Ranchos de Albuquerque at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Los Ranchos de Albuquerque’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Los Ranchos de 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.