Daniels County, Montana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Daniels 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 52nd of 56 counties in Montana. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $2.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,478 per resident. Since 1986 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2023 (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 Daniels 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.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | 54.2 | $1M | ||
| Inland flooding | 3.0 | $670K | ||
| Hail | 14.1 | $61K | ||
| Tornado | 7.9 | $56K | ||
| Winter weather | 35.6 | $50K | ||
| Strong wind | 5.1 | $47K | ||
| Wildfire | 37.8 | $30K | ||
| Drought | 28.7 | $28K | ||
| Heat wave | 8.1 | $17K | ||
| Lightning | 2.4 | $10K | ||
| Earthquake | 3.3 | $4K | ||
| Ice storm | 3.6 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 8.0 | $23 |
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 Daniels 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 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 278 storm reports in Daniels County since 1956 and about $719,500 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on June 11, 1972.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 11, 1972 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 29, 1991 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 8, 1988 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 8, 1988 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 8, 1988 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 11, 2000 | Hail | Peerless | $350K |
| Aug 8, 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Four Buttes | $95K |
| Jun 23, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Near Flaxville | $50K |
| Aug 8, 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Peerless | $50K |
| Jul 4, 1998 | Hail | Richland | $30K |
| Mar 15, 1999 | Flood | Countywide | $30K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 2, 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 Daniels 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 Daniels 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; 1,131 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Roosevelt County | 5 | |
| Valley County | 11 | |
| Sheridan County | 4 |
Common questions about Daniels County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Daniels County?
Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Daniels County, about $1.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $669,958.
How many federal disasters has Daniels County had?
Daniels County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1986, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Flooding in October 2023.
Is Daniels County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 52nd 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 Daniels 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 Daniels County had?
NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Daniels County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on June 11, 1972. The weather service has also logged 164 hail reports and 17 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.