Natural Disaster Risk in Clayton

Natural Hazard Profile: Clayton, New Mexico

Clayton is a town of roughly 3,178 residents in Union County, in the Great Plains. The area experiences hot, dry summers and cold winters with dramatic elevation variation, with a late-summer monsoon season with flash flood risk shaping the pattern of natural hazards that residents encounter. Understanding the local risk profile is essential for anyone living in, moving to, or owning property in Clayton.

According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Clayton carries an overall risk score of 4.8/10, placing it in the moderate category. Prolonged drought is the primary hazard risk, shaped by low annual rainfall, high evaporation rates, and increasing temperature trends that deepen and lengthen dry periods. The area also faces notable exposure to wildfire and avalanche.

Clayton's risk score, slightly below the 5.6/10 state average and near the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Union County, the highest-scoring are drought, wildfire, and avalanche. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

With a moderate risk rating, Clayton residents are well-served by maintaining standard preparedness practices — an emergency supply kit, awareness of local hazard seasonality, and insurance that covers the top local risks. Periodic review of coverage for drought is recommended.