Park County, Montana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Park County, Montana has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 66% of US counties. It ranks 9th of 56 counties in Montana. The costliest hazards here are avalanches, inland flooding and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $28 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,618 per resident. Since 1996 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (severe winter storm and straight-line winds). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (95 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.3 million on 141 claims here, including $2.5 million for floods in 2022.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Park County
- Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
- Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalanche | 99.6 | $12M | ||
| Inland flooding | 55.6 | $9M | ||
| Wildfire | 93.5 | $3M | ||
| Cold wave | 69.8 | $2M | ||
| Earthquake | 76.4 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 60.1 | $364K | ||
| Landslide | 96.7 | $264K | ||
| Winter weather | 82.3 | $256K | ||
| Hail | 43.5 | $223K | ||
| Strong wind | 9.5 | $73K | ||
| Heat wave | 17.7 | $52K | ||
| Tornado | 8.3 | $51K | ||
| Drought | 23.6 | $10K | ||
| Ice storm | 11.2 | $6K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 20.2 | $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 very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Park County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 12
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 255 storm reports in Park County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 7 injuries and about $167,500 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on July 2, 2010 near Wilsall Arpt.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2, 2010 | EF2 | Wilsall Arpt | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 9, 2011 | EF0 | Wilsall | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2011 | Flood | Clyde Park | $130K |
| Jul 2, 2010 | Tornado | Wilsall Arpt | $33K |
| Jul 25, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Livingston | $5K |
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 Park 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 Park 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; 9,635 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 | |
| Park County, WY | 2 | |
| Carbon County | 11 | |
| Stillwater County | 14 | |
| Sweet Grass County | 8 | |
| Meagher County | 8 |
Common questions about Park County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Park County?
Avalanche has the highest expected yearly losses in Park County, about $11.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $8.5 million.
How many federal disasters has Park County had?
Park County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1996, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds in April 2026.
Is Park County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 9th 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 Park County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Park 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 Park County had?
NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Park County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on July 2, 2010 near Wilsall Arpt. The weather service has also logged 58 hail reports and 7 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.