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Musselshell County, Montana

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

Very Low overall risk
34th of 56highest risk in Montana
$5Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Musselshell County, Montana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 83% of US counties. It ranks 34th of 56 counties in Montana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $4.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,042 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2023 (flooding). Only 15 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.2 million on 60 claims here, including $916,000 for floods in 2011.

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

Top risks in Musselshell County

$1.4 million 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 270 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.

Cold wave

Moderate
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low15.5
$1M
WildfireModerate91.9
$1M
Cold waveModerate65.5
$1M
LightningModerate73.9
$426K
HailLow35.7
$112K
Winter weatherModerate63.7
$77K
Strong windVery Low9.6
$52K
Heat waveVery Low17.6
$36K
TornadoVery Low8.1
$34K
EarthquakeVery Low20.7
$23K
DroughtVery Low24.9
$9K
LandslideLow63.7
$3K
Ice stormVery Low5.7
$2K

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 Musselshell County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire4
Flood4
Severe Storm3
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Oct 11, 2023FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2020Bobcat FireFire management
Oct 31, 2018FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 9, 2014Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2014Ice Jams and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 10, 2013FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 26, 2012Dahl FireFire management
Jun 17, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 30, 2000WildfiresMajor disaster
Show all 13
Jul 26, 1999Fishel Creek Fire ComplexFire management
Jul 25, 1997Severe Storms,Ice Jams, Snow Melt, FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 22, 1977DroughtEmergency

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 325 storm reports in Musselshell County since 1955 and about $6.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 4, 1986.

5tornadoes
233hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
47damaging thunderstorm winds
35floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 4, 1986F2–0 / 0
May 20, 1999F0Roundup0 / 0
Jul 10, 1992F0–0 / 0
Aug 26, 2004F0Klein0 / 0
Jul 8, 2013EF0Melstone0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 23, 2011FloodRoundup Arpt$6M
Jul 3, 1998Flash FloodRoundup$200K
May 20, 1999TornadoRoundup$25K
Aug 14, 1998Thunderstorm WindRoundup$10K
Jul 3, 2000Thunderstorm WindRoundup$3K
May 4, 1986Tornado–$3K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 16, 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 Musselshell County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (15 policies)
6.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.2 millionpaid on 60 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $915,788 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 Musselshell County

$235,000median home value (Montana $375,800, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Montana 1981, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18%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; 2,663 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
Yellowstone CountyModerate12
Fergus CountyLow8
Rosebud CountyLow13
Golden Valley CountyVery Low8
Petroleum CountyVery Low10

Common questions about Musselshell County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Musselshell County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Musselshell County, about $1.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Musselshell County had?

Musselshell County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Flooding in October 2023.

Is Musselshell County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 34th 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 Musselshell County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Musselshell 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 Musselshell County had?

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Musselshell County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 4, 1986. The weather service has also logged 233 hail reports and 35 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.