Natural hazards · Socorro

Socorro, NM natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Socorro comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1999. 2 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Socorro?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Socorro to be higher than in 92% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding79%Earthquakes10%Everything else11%

By hazard

What Socorro faces

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

Inland flooding

79% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Earthquakes

10% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. places

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningDroughtVolcanic activity

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesAvalanchesTsunamis

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 Socorro flood?

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

2paid claims since 1999

$18Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19992026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Socorro County.

Disasters that hit Socorro

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into SocorroDeclared for Socorro County only

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Extreme Cold Temperatures

$21K to the City of Socorro for repairs

2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

$22K to the City of Socorro for repairs

Socorro County has had 9 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and fires.

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. Socorro covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Socorro’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Socorro. 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 Socorro 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.