Garfield County, Montana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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 | 44.1 | $886K | ||
| Inland flooding | 5.4 | $876K | ||
| Wildfire | 78.3 | $398K | ||
| Lightning | 35.8 | $158K | ||
| Strong wind | 16.0 | $158K | ||
| Hail | 22.9 | $96K | ||
| Heat wave | 10.6 | $23K | ||
| Winter weather | 19.9 | $20K | ||
| Tornado | 4.2 | $16K | ||
| Earthquake | 6.4 | $7K | ||
| Drought | 21.7 | $7K | ||
| Ice storm | 2.2 | $985 | ||
| Landslide | 38.7 | $687 | ||
| Avalanche | 1.3 | $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
Most recent
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 1983 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 17, 1975 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 7, 1991 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 11, 1991 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 13, 1993 | F0 | Rock Springs | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 14, 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jordan | $4M |
| Jul 16, 2003 | Wildfire | Brusett | $4M |
| Jul 12, 2001 | Hail | Edwards | $175K |
| Jul 8, 2000 | Hail | Jordan | $140K |
| Jun 22, 2002 | Flash Flood | Van Norman | $100K |
| Jul 8, 2000 | Hail | Brusett | $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 ›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
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 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 | |
| Rosebud County | 13 | |
| Valley County | 11 | |
| Phillips County | 8 | |
| McCone County | 7 | |
| Prairie County | 5 | |
| Petroleum County | 10 |
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.