Photo: Matthew.kowal · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Silver City than in 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Silver City gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #46 of 73 in New Mexico. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%), then wildfire (13%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims 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 Silver City 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 Silver City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Silver City, and Silver City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 13%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #46 of 73 in New Mexico; higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Silver City’s residents live in 5 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, Silver City has more expected damage per building than 62% of New Mexico towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.1M a year in losses across Silver City: $5.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Silver City flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Silver City, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Silver City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Grant County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Silver City
Disasters that paid out in Silver City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Silver City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$112K to the Town of Silver City for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Grant County has had 7 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 3 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Grant County, 2011–2025.
Old photos of Silver City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Silver City archive →Silver City and its neighbors
Silver City has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver City | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Little Walnut Village | Dmore damage than 86% | wildfire | — |
| Rosedale | — | 252 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 Silver City 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 Silver City
Is Silver City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Silver City has higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #46 of 73 in New Mexico. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and wildfire (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Silver City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Silver City since 1981, $68K in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Silver City 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 Grant County, 4% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Silver City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Silver City’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 Silver City?
By FEMA money that reached Silver City, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): $112K to the Town of Silver City for repairs.
Is Silver City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Silver City’s rate for it is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Silver City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Silver City’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.