Meagher County, Montana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Meagher County, Montana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 97% of US counties. It ranks 50th of 56 counties in Montana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $2.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,118 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2011 (severe storms and flooding). Only 11 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 Meagher County
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 9.7 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 37.0 | $521K | ||
| Wildfire | 68.4 | $140K | ||
| Earthquake | 30.6 | $73K | ||
| Landslide | 91.4 | $61K | ||
| Lightning | 19.8 | $61K | ||
| Winter weather | 45.6 | $50K | ||
| Hail | 13.4 | $39K | ||
| Tornado | 5.2 | $19K | ||
| Strong wind | 3.6 | $18K | ||
| Drought | 20.8 | $4K | ||
| Heat wave | 3.9 | $3K | ||
| Ice storm | 2.7 | $1K | ||
| Avalanche | 23.2 | $48 |
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 moderate 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 Meagher 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 87 storm reports in Meagher County since 1956 and about $75,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on June 5, 2012 near White Sulphur Spgs.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 5, 2012 | EF1 | White Sulphur Spgs | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 15, 1996 | F0 | White Sulphur Spgs | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 22, 1978 | n/a | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 3, 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ringling | $50K |
| Jul 3, 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Martinsdale | $25K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 13, 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 Meagher 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 Meagher 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; 1,450 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Gallatin County | 7 | |
| Cascade County | 5 | |
| Lewis and Clark County | 14 | |
| Park County | 12 | |
| Broadwater County | 10 | |
| Sweet Grass County | 8 | |
| Wheatland County | 8 | |
| Judith Basin County | 7 |
Common questions about Meagher County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Meagher County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Meagher County, about $1.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $520,607.
How many federal disasters has Meagher County had?
Meagher County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in June 2011.
Is Meagher County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 50th 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 Meagher County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Meagher 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 Meagher County had?
NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Meagher County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on June 5, 2012 near White Sulphur Spgs. The weather service has also logged 45 hail reports and 6 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.