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Every federal disaster in Rio Rancho since 1954

Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered Sandoval County. Declarations make federal aid available after hurricanes, floods, storms, fires and other events, so this is a record of the big ones.

Declarations
41since 1954
Major disasters
19the most serious kind
Since 2000
35declarations
Most recent
2026Severe Storms and Flooding
195419551960197019731977198019901998199920002000200020022005200620102010201020112011201220122013201320132013201420172017202020202020202020202020202020202020202020202020202020202022202420262026
Biological (COVID-19) (13)Fires (10)Floods (9)Severe storms and tornadoes (7)Other (1)Hurricanes and tropical storms (1)

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Sandoval County's overall natural hazard risk relatively low, led by lightning. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.

All declarations

DeclaredEventTypeFEMA number
Oct 7, 2026Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4954
Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4918
Aug 20, 2024Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4809
May 4, 2022Wildfires, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Mudflows, and Debris FlowsMajor disasterDR-4652
Apr 5, 2020COVID-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4529
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3519
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3506
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3510
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3520
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3485
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3500
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3496
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3521
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3559
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3580
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3558
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3460
Dec 20, 2017Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4352
Jun 15, 2017El Cajete FireFire managementFM-5184
Oct 6, 2014Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4197
Oct 29, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4152
Oct 24, 2013Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4151
Sep 30, 2013Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4148
Sep 27, 2013Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4147
Aug 24, 2012FloodingMajor disasterDR-4079
Jun 20, 2012Romero FireFire managementFM-2982
Nov 23, 2011FloodingMajor disasterDR-4047
Jun 26, 2011Las Conchas FireFire managementFM-2933
Jun 2, 2010Rio FireFire managementFM-2843
May 24, 2010Cabazon FireFire managementFM-2842
Aug 30, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1659
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3229
Aug 26, 2002Nm - Lakes Fire Complex - 08/26/02Fire managementFM-2459
May 13, 2000Severe Forest FireMajor disasterDR-1329
May 10, 2000Severe Fire ThreatsEmergencyEM-3154
Sep 22, 1999Severe Ice Storms, Flooding and Heavy RainsMajor disasterDR-1301
Jul 2, 1998Extreme Fire HazardsEmergencyEM-3128
Mar 2, 1977DroughtEmergencyEM-3034
May 11, 1973Severe Storms, Snow Melt & FloodingMajor disasterDR-380
Aug 15, 1955FloodMajor disasterDR-38
Oct 13, 1954FloodMajor disasterDR-27

Frequently asked questions

How many federal disasters has Rio Rancho had?

Since 1954, the federal government has issued 41 disaster or emergency declarations covering Sandoval County, including 19 major disaster declarations. 35 of them came in 2000 or later.

What was the most recent federal disaster in Rio Rancho?

Severe Storms and Flooding (Major disaster, declared October 7, 2026).

What kinds of disasters hit Rio Rancho most often?

By FEMA incident type: biological (13), fire (10), flood (9) and severe storm (7).

New to Rio Rancho? The city profile covers flood maps and emergency alerts, and the risk summary shows FEMA's hazard ratings.

Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), downloaded October 18, 2026. We list declarations that named Sandoval County, plus early statewide declarations from before FEMA designated individual counties. "Major disaster" declarations bring the widest federal aid; "emergency" declarations cover shorter-term help; "fire management" declarations help pay to fight large wildfires.