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Hill County, Montana

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

Relatively Low overall risk
17th of 56highest risk in Montana
$13Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Hill County, Montana has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 50% of US counties. It ranks 17th of 56 counties in Montana. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and winter weather. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $809 per resident. Since 1986 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (severe winter storm and flooding). Only 9 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $56,000 on 17 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Hill County

$7.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 12 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$4.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 years.
  • 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.
$309,270 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 22 times a year.
  • Keep a winter kit in the car.
  • Have food, water and medicine for several days at home.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveHigh93.7
$8M
Inland floodingLow43.4
$4M
Winter weatherHigh89.2
$309K
LightningModerate61.5
$284K
WildfireVery Low62.8
$83K
DroughtLow44.6
$79K
Strong windVery Low12.4
$78K
Heat waveVery Low24.7
$76K
HailVery Low24.1
$71K
TornadoVery Low8.3
$39K
EarthquakeVery Low20.5
$24K
Ice stormVery Low12.9
$6K
LandslideVery Low38.7
$478
AvalancheVery Low4.5
$2

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 high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm5
Flood4
Fire1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 18, 2024Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 12, 2023FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2018FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 10, 2013FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 17, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 10, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 3, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2000WildfiresMajor disaster
May 16, 1996Severe Storms, Flooding, Ice Jams, Soil SaturationMajor disaster
Show all 11
Oct 14, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 353 storm reports in Hill County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $5.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on May 25, 1980.

7tornadoes
112hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
215damaging thunderstorm winds
8floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 25, 1980F1–0 / 0
Jun 16, 1995F1Havre0 / 0
Aug 3, 1992F0–0 / 0
Jun 6, 1986F0–0 / 0
Aug 16, 1993F0Kremlin0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 12, 2023FloodLaredo$3M
May 7, 2024FloodRocky Boy$1M
Jun 22, 1994HailGildford$550K
May 25, 1980Tornado–$250K
Jun 27, 1998Flash FloodHavre$233K
Jun 20, 2003Thunderstorm WindHavre$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 29, 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 Hill County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (9 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$55,508paid on 17 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $25,787 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 Hill County

$202,600median home value (Montana $375,800, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Montana 1981, US 1980)
73%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.1%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; 7,234 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
Blaine CountyLow11
Chouteau CountyVery Low8
Liberty CountyVery Low8

Common questions about Hill County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hill County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Hill County, about $7.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $4.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Hill County had?

Hill County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1986, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Flooding in July 2024.

Is Hill County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 17th 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 Hill County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Hill 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 Hill County had?

NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Hill County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on May 25, 1980. The weather service has also logged 112 hail reports and 8 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.