Natural hazards · Aztec

Aztec, NM natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Aztec comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 15 claims here since 1988. 2 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Aztec?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Aztec to be higher than in 77% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding85%Cold waves6%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Aztec faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

85% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 92% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Cold waves

6% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 35% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 19 years in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Aztec flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Aztec, from FEMA’s records.

15paid claims since 1988

$409Kpaid to owners

3homes flooded more than once

19882026

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Aztec isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: San Juan County.

Disasters that hit Aztec

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Aztec itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Aztec.

Brought FEMA money into AztecDeclared for San Juan County only

2024

South Fork Fire, Salt Fire, and Flooding

19 households applied for aid $1K aid approved

2013

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

$211K to the City of Aztec for repairs

San Juan County has had 8 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often fires and floods.

Around Aztec

Aztec and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Center Pointmostly inland floodingVery high

Aztecmostly inland floodingHigh

Spencervillemostly inland floodingHigh

South Rivermostly inland floodingHigh

Bloomfieldmostly inland floodingModerate

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Aztec covers 3 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Aztec’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Aztec. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Aztec total about $3.5M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.