Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA puts Raton’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Raton gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #38 of 73 in New Mexico. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (59%), then wildfire (37%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2006.
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 Raton 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
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 Raton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 59% of the building damage FEMA expects in Raton, and Raton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 37%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
C #38 of 73 in New Mexico; higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Raton’s 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, Raton has more expected damage per building than 51% of New Mexico towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.2M a year in losses across Raton: $2.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Raton flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2006
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Raton, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Raton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Colfax County.The storms Raton remembers
None of the 8 disasters declared for Colfax County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Raton itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20061 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Colfax County has had 8 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 Colfax County, 2002–2022.
Old photos of Raton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Raton archive →Get ready for what Raton 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.
- 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 Raton
Is Raton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Raton has higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #38 of 73 in New Mexico. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (59%) and wildfire (37%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Raton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Raton since 2006, $762 in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Raton 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 Colfax County, 7% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Raton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Raton’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Raton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (59%), and Raton’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Raton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Raton’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.