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Garfield County, Montana

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
51st of 56highest risk in Montana
$3Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Garfield 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 51st of 56 counties in Montana. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $2.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,259 per resident. Since 1986 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (severe winter storm and straight-line winds). Only 7 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 Garfield County

$885,514 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 11 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$875,739 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$398,227 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 275 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveLow44.1
$886K
Inland floodingVery Low5.4
$876K
WildfireLow78.3
$398K
LightningLow35.8
$158K
Strong windVery Low16.0
$158K
HailVery Low22.9
$96K
Heat waveVery Low10.6
$23K
Winter weatherVery Low19.9
$20K
TornadoVery Low4.2
$16K
EarthquakeVery Low6.4
$7K
DroughtVery Low21.7
$7K
Ice stormVery Low2.2
$985
LandslideVery Low38.7
$687
AvalancheVery Low1.3
$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 relatively low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Garfield County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire4
Flood3
Hurricane1
Severe Storm1
Straight-Line Winds1

Most recent

Apr 7, 2026Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Oct 11, 2023FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2020Huff FireFire management
Jul 27, 2017Lodgepole Fire ComplexFire management
Jul 10, 2013FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 17, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 23, 2003Mt - Missouri Breaks Complex Fire 07/16/03Fire management
Aug 30, 2000WildfiresMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Montana also had 36 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1965

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 623 storm reports in Garfield County since 1965, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $9.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on July 17, 1983.

12tornadoes
291hail reports, largest 3 inches
272damaging thunderstorm winds
37floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 17, 1983F0–0 / 0
Jun 17, 1975F0–0 / 0
Jun 7, 1991F0–0 / 0
May 11, 1991F0–0 / 0
Aug 13, 1993F0Rock Springs0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 14, 2009Thunderstorm WindJordan$4M
Jul 16, 2003WildfireBrusett$4M
Jul 12, 2001HailEdwards$175K
Jul 8, 2000HailJordan$140K
Jun 22, 2002Flash FloodVan Norman$100K
Jul 8, 2000HailBrusett$92K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 25, 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 Garfield County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (7 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$105,461paid on 5 flood claims since 1978
2026costliest year, with $105,461 paid

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 Garfield County

$169,900median home value (Montana $375,800, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Montana 1981, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
19.3%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

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; 730 housing units.

Compare in Montana

All 56 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Yellowstone CountyModerateInland flooding
Gallatin CountyModerateEarthquake
Missoula CountyLowInland flooding
Flathead CountyModerateInland flooding
Cascade CountyModerateInland flooding
Lewis and Clark CountyLowCold wave
Ravalli CountyLowWildfire
Silver Bow CountyVery LowCold wave

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Custer CountyVery Low7
Rosebud CountyLow13
Valley CountyVery Low11
Phillips CountyVery Low8
McCone CountyVery Low7
Prairie CountyVery Low5
Petroleum CountyVery Low10

Common questions about Garfield County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Garfield County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Garfield County, about $885,514 a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $875,739.

How many federal disasters has Garfield County had?

Garfield County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1986, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds in April 2026.

Is Garfield County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 51st 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 Garfield County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Garfield County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Garfield County had?

NOAA records list 12 tornadoes in Garfield County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on July 17, 1983. The weather service has also logged 291 hail reports and 37 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.