Photo: Captain Budd Christman, NOAA Corps · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Sunland Park as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sunland Park gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #22 of 73 in New Mexico. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims 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 Sunland Park 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
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 Sunland Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 97% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sunland Park, and Sunland Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #22 of 73 in New Mexico; higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Sunland Park’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, Sunland Park has less expected damage per building than 71% of New Mexico towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.1M a year in losses across Sunland Park: $3.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sunland Park flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2010
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sunland Park, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Sunland Park isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Dona Ana County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Sunland Park
Disasters that paid out in Sunland Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Sunland Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding106 households applied for aid$65K aid approved
Dona Ana County has had 7 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.
Old photos of Sunland Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sunland Park archive →Sunland Park and its neighbors
Sunland Park 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Teresa | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | — |
| El Paso | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 341 |
| Sunland Park | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
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 Sunland Park 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.
- 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 Sunland Park
Is Sunland Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sunland Park has higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #22 of 73 in New Mexico. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Sunland Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Sunland Park since 2010, $100K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Sunland Park 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 Dona Ana County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Sunland Park?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sunland Park’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 Sunland Park?
By FEMA money that reached Sunland Park, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 106 households applied for aid, $65K approved.
Is Sunland Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (97%), and Sunland Park’s rate for it is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sunland Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sunland Park’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.