Carter County, Montana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Carter County, Montana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 98% of US counties. It ranks 53rd of 56 counties in Montana. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $2.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,660 per resident. Since 2000 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2014 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). No homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Carter County
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | 39.3 | $852K | ||
| Inland flooding | 4.1 | $834K | ||
| Wildfire | 73.8 | $311K | ||
| Hail | 22.6 | $109K | ||
| Winter weather | 44.7 | $71K | ||
| Tornado | 7.6 | $53K | ||
| Strong wind | 4.5 | $40K | ||
| Earthquake | 12.3 | $16K | ||
| Heat wave | 7.8 | $16K | ||
| Lightning | 2.7 | $12K | ||
| Drought | 19.1 | $4K | ||
| Ice storm | 5.9 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 28.0 | $344 | ||
| Avalanche | 0.4 | $0 |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very low and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Carter County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Montana also had 36 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1954
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 457 storm reports in Carter County since 1954 and about $661,250 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on June 17, 2014 near Capitol.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 2014 | EF3 | Capitol | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 28, 2018 | EF2 | Capitol | 0 / 0 |
| May 11, 1986 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 15, 1969 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 3, 1971 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2011 | Flood | Albion | $320K |
| Jul 18, 1978 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Apr 14, 2009 | Flood | Ridge | $80K |
| Aug 13, 1993 | Hail | Alzada | $5K |
| Jul 23, 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mill Iron | $3K |
| May 11, 1986 | Tornado | – | $3K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Flood insurance in Carter County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Carter County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 829 housing units.
Compare in Montana
All 56 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone County | Inland flooding | |
| Gallatin County | Earthquake | |
| Missoula County | Inland flooding | |
| Flathead County | Inland flooding | |
| Cascade County | Inland flooding | |
| Lewis and Clark County | Cold wave | |
| Ravalli County | Wildfire | |
| Silver Bow County | Cold wave |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Custer County | 7 | |
| Butte County, SD | 19 | |
| Crook County, WY | 5 | |
| Fallon County | 6 | |
| Powder River County | 10 | |
| Harding County, SD | 13 |
Common questions about Carter County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Carter County?
Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Carter County, about $852,216 a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $833,817.
How many federal disasters has Carter County had?
Carter County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2000, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in October 2014.
Is Carter County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 53rd highest of 56 in Montana. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Carter County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Carter County had?
NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in Carter County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on June 17, 2014 near Capitol. The weather service has also logged 299 hail reports and 10 floods here.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.