Natural Disasters in Los Alamos, NM
Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data
Natural Hazard Risk
Source: FEMA National Risk IndexRisk Score
3.6
Very Low
Expected Annual Loss
14.0
Score (0-100)
Social Vulnerability
10.6
Score (0-100)
Community Resilience
99.7
Score (0-100)
Top Hazard Risks
| Hazard | Risk Score |
|---|---|
| Wildfire | 83.4 |
| Landslide | 66.0 |
| Earthquake | 50.3 |
| Winter Weather | 49.0 |
| Lightning | 37.0 |
| Hail | 11.1 |
| Avalanche | 8.6 |
| Cold Wave | 6.8 |
| Heat Wave | 6.3 |
| Tornado | 3.8 |
| Strong Wind | 3.0 |
| Ice Storm | 1.9 |
Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.
Disaster Declarations
Source: FEMA OpenFEMATotal Declarations
10
Most Recent
Fire
May 2022
Most Common Type
Fire
4 declarations
| Date | Type | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2022 | Fire | WILDFIRES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, MUDFLOWS, AND DEBRIS FLOWS |
| Apr 5, 2020 | Biological | COVID-19 PANDEMIC |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | COVID-19 |
| Oct 29, 2013 | Flood | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND MUDSLIDES |
| Aug 24, 2012 | Flood | FLOODING |
| Nov 23, 2011 | Flood | FLOODING |
| Jun 26, 2011 | Fire | LAS CONCHAS FIRE |
| Sep 7, 2005 | Hurricane | HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION |
| May 13, 2000 | Fire | SEVERE FOREST FIRE |
| May 10, 2000 | Fire | SEVERE FIRE THREATS |
Individual Assistance
Source: FEMA Housing AssistanceTotal IA Registrations
15
Total IA Distributed
$60,707
| Disaster | Registrations | Total IA $ | Avg Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR-4795 | 1 | N/A | — |
| DR-4529 | 14 | $60,707 | — |
Individual and household assistance for homeowners and renters affected by federally declared disasters.
Flood Insurance (NFIP)
Source: FEMA NFIPTotal Claims
10
Total Claims Paid
$30,868
Avg Claim Payout
$3,087
County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.
Disaster Recovery Spending
Source: FEMA Public AssistanceTotal Federal Spending
$6,453,517
Disasters with PA
6
Total Projects
44
| Disaster | Type | Projects | Federal $ |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR-4152 | Flood | 29 | $3,484,392 |
| DR-1329 | Fire | 5 | $1,074,441 |
| DR-4079 | Flood | 3 | $962,946 |
| DR-4047 | Flood | 4 | $791,428 |
| DR-4652 | Wildfire | 2 | $115,600 |
| DR-4529 | Biological | 1 | $24,710 |
Hazard Mitigation
Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation AssistanceMitigation Projects
3
Federal Funding
$300,394
Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio
2.03
BCR
Top Mitigation Project Types
| Project Type | Projects | Federal $ |
|---|---|---|
| 402.2: Roads and Bridges - Post-wildfire erosion and flood protection | 1 | $80,564 |
| 91.3: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan - UPDATE | 1 | $37,500 |
| 300.2: Vegetation Management - Wildfire | 1 | $182,330 |
Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.
Los Alamos has a very low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are wildfire, landslide, earthquake. The area has had 10 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is fire (4 declarations). 10 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $6,453,517 in public assistance recovery funding. $60,707 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 3 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.