Otero County, NM Environment & Hazard Risk

• WildfireRelatively High$11.8M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 105 years
• Winter weatherRelatively High$414K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.9 events a year
• LightningRelatively High$1.1M/yr expected annual loss, about 61 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively Moderate$300K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• DroughtRelatively Moderate$587K/yr expected annual loss, about 113 events a year
• HailRelatively Moderate$558K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• LandslideRelatively Low$4,209/yr expected annual loss, about 1.4 events a year
• Heat waveRelatively Low$690K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.4 events a year
• EarthquakeVery Low$297K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 706 years
• Volcanic activityVery Low$9/yr expected annual loss, about once every 10,000 years
• Strong windRelatively Low$314K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
• AvalancheVery Low$162/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years
• Cold waveRelatively Low$256K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 5 years
• HurricaneVery Low$6,625/yr expected annual loss, about once every 106 years
• TornadoVery Low$64K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

757 of 28,117 (2.7%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

5,212

Insured in high-risk zones

688 (13%)

Flood claims since 1978

130

Claims paid since 1978

$1.5M

• Drought429
• Hail98
• High Wind86
• Thunderstorm Wind77
• Flash Flood72
• Heavy Snow35
• Heavy Rain11
• Tornado8
• Dust Storm5
• Winter Storm4

• Thunderstorm Wind71 kt wind06/06/2010

  Desert, Otero County

  4 injured, $1,000 damage

  What happened

  A peak gust of 82 mph was reported 10 miles north of El Paso at the KQMG ASOS on the McGregor Range. The Fort Bliss Weather section reported four soldiers were injured when a field tent collapsed during the storm.

• Dust Storm03/18/2025

  Southeast Tularosa Basin

  3 injured

  What happened

  Otero County Emergency Manager reported US 54 was closed in both directions about 6 miles south of Boles Acres due to a pile up involving 5 semi-trucks. This accident was due to visibilities near zero in the area. Three people were transported to the hospital with injuries due to the accident.

• Hail2.5" hail05/28/2008

  Tularosa, Otero County

  $2.5M damage

  What happened

  Hail from quarter to golf ball size, with occasional hail stones the size of tennis balls accumulated to about 3 inches in the Tularosa area. The hail was driven by wind gusts up to 80 mph, and broke windows, damaged roofs and sidings to more than 500 homes in Tularosa.

• Flash Flood06/22/2006

  Alamogordo, Otero County

  $1.3M damage

  What happened

  Strong thunderstorms developed over the southern Sacramento Mountains and along the eastern heights of Alamogordo. One storm in particular dropped about an inch and a half of rain in 40 minutes over Marble Canyon , which drains into eastern Alamogordo. Other storms added heavy rain and several inches of drifting small hail to that section of town. Strong winds blew shingles off houses, but flooding was the main problem. Roads along the eastern heights turned into raging torrents which flowed westward into the center of town. Mud flowed into numerous houses and several vehicles were swept into arroyos. A gas main was broken which led to the evacuation of residents in the vicinity. The state of NM put the damage total at about $1.3 million.

• TornadoEF1, 0.31 mi path, 60 yd wide06/04/2019

  Boles, Otero County

  1 injured, $250K damage

  What happened

  Storm survey showed a mobile home was completely destroyed with 3 other residences receiving moderate damage due mainly to flying debris. Several out buildings including sheds and barns were either completely destroyed or heavily damaged. One out building was shifted off it's foundation and moved approximately 9 feet north. A metal silo used for storage was lifted off it's foundation and traveled airborne for approximately 400 feet before striking one of the residential structures.

• Flash Flood08/17/2006

  Alamogordo, Otero County

  $600K damage

  What happened

  Heavy rainfall along the western slopes of the southern Sacramento Mountains led to excessive runoff and major flooding in Alamogordo and Boles Acres. Numerous roads throughout the area were closed, covered with water and debris. There were also some rescues of people trapped in their homes.

• Alamogordo Domestic Water SystemServes 35,301 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+5 monitoring or reporting
• Holloman Air Force BaseServes 13,000 · Groundwater · FederalNo health violations+25 monitoring or reporting
• Tularosa Water SystemServes 3,485 · Surface water · Local government15 health violations+95 monitoring or reporting
• Cloudcroft Water SystemServes 2,865 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Timberon W and SDServes 2,698 · Groundwater · Local government10 health violations+32 monitoring or reporting
• La Luz MdwcaServes 1,917 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations
• Twin Forks MdwcaServes 1,274 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
• Cloud Country West Water SystemServes 684 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations