Natural hazards · Roswell

Roswell, NM natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Roswell comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 71 claims here since 1978. 2 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Roswell?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Roswell to be higher than in 88% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding85%Everything else15%

By hazard

What Roswell 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 98% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDroughtVolcanic activity

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamis

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 Roswell flood?

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

71paid claims since 1978

$7.2Mpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19782026

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

🏷️ 05% off flood insurance. Roswell is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Chaves County.

Disasters that hit Roswell

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into RoswellDeclared for Chaves County only

2024

Severe Storm and Flooding

2,719 households applied for aid $18.5M aid approved $47.4M to the City of Roswell for repairs

2013

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

$89K to the City of Roswell for repairs

Chaves County has had 6 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and hurricanes.

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. Roswell covers 10 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Roswell’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Roswell. 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 Roswell total about $32.6M 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.