Butte-Silver Bow, Montana: natural disaster risk
How exposed Butte-Silver Bow is to floods, storms and other hazards, from FEMA and NOAA records for Silver Bow County.
Butte-Silver Bow is a city of 35,052 people in Silver Bow County, Montana. FEMA's National Risk Index rates Silver Bow County very low for natural hazards overall, lower than most of the US. The costliest hazards there are cold wave, earthquake and inland flooding, with about $14.4 million in expected losses a year across the county. The weather service has logged 83 storm reports in the county since 1958, including 0 tornadoes and 7 floods. About 0.2% of homes in the county carry federal flood insurance.
Risk figures are for Silver Bow County. FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; NOAA Storm Events; US Census Bureau ACS 2020 to 2024. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Butte-Silver Bow
Full Silver Bow County report ›- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- 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.
All hazards
| Hazard | Rating | A year |
|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | $5M | |
| Earthquake | $4M | |
| Inland flooding | $3M | |
| Winter weather | $599K | |
| Wildfire | $527K | |
| Lightning | $437K | |
| Hail | $127K | |
| Strong wind | $88K | |
| Tornado | $74K | |
| Landslide | $72K | |
| Heat wave | $38K | |
| Ice storm | $10K |
Homes in Butte-Silver Bow
Older homes and mobile homes usually take more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes. Ask about roof age, flood history and retrofits before you buy or rent.
Common questions about Butte-Silver Bow
Is Butte-Silver Bow safe from natural disasters?
Butte-Silver Bow is in Silver Bow County, which FEMA's National Risk Index rates very low overall, lower than most of the US. The biggest hazards are cold wave, earthquake, inland flooding. No place is free of risk, so check the flood map and insurance for any home you consider.
What natural disasters happen in Butte-Silver Bow?
By expected yearly losses in Silver Bow County, the top hazards are cold wave (Moderate), earthquake (Low), inland flooding (Very Low). Silver Bow County has been part of 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events.
Does Butte-Silver Bow get tornadoes?
Tornadoes are rare here. NOAA has no county tornado reports for Silver Bow County since 1950.
Do I need flood insurance in Butte-Silver Bow?
Standard home insurance does not cover floods. In Silver Bow County, about 0.2% of homes have federal flood insurance, and FEMA rates inland flooding risk very low. Check the FEMA flood map for your address and get a quote even outside a high-risk zone.