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Ravalli County, Montana

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

Relatively Low overall risk
5th of 56highest risk in Montana
$37Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Ravalli County, Montana has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 78% of US counties. It ranks 5th of 56 counties in Montana. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $37 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $839 per resident. Since 1996 it has been included in 11 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). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (91 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $115,000 on 36 claims here.

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

Top risks in Ravalli County

$21.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 80 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$6.6 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$5.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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
WildfireHigh98.9
$21M
Inland floodingLow52.0
$7M
Cold waveModerate87.6
$6M
AvalancheHigh87.0
$1M
EarthquakeLow69.3
$711K
LightningModerate65.4
$394K
Winter weatherHigh87.4
$317K
Heat waveLow47.1
$307K
Ice stormModerate76.8
$304K
HailVery Low28.8
$106K
Strong windVery Low12.8
$96K
LandslideModerate93.6
$92K
TornadoVery Low9.1
$51K
DroughtVery Low19.5
$3K

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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Fire5
Severe Storm3
Hurricane1
Flood1
Straight-Line Winds1

Most recent

Apr 7, 2026Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Aug 17, 2017Lolo Peak FireFire management
Aug 1, 2016Roaring Lion FireFire management
Apr 17, 2014Ice Jams and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2012Sawtooth FireFire management
Jun 17, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 30, 2000WildfiresMajor disaster
Aug 5, 2000Mt-Southwestern Zone Two Fire ComplexFire management
Jul 25, 1997Severe Storms,Ice Jams, Snow Melt, FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 11
Feb 23, 1996Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ice JamsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1968

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 181 storm reports in Ravalli County since 1968, with 1 death and 2 injuries and about $2.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 23, 1975.

3tornadoes
85hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
52damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 23, 1975F2–1 / 0
Aug 15, 1990F0–0 / 0
Oct 16, 1988F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 4, 2002HailStevensville$2M
May 27, 2010LightningCorvallis$250K
Jul 14, 2014LightningDarby$100K
Jul 30, 2023LightningDarby$70K
Nov 7, 2006FloodStevensville$60K
Jun 13, 2017FloodHamilton Rvlli Co Ar$31K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Sep 10, 2025. 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 Ravalli County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (91 policies)
14.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$115,489paid on 36 flood claims since 1978
2014costliest year, with $53,445 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 Ravalli County

$476,600median home value (Montana $375,800, US $332,700)
1991median year homes were built (Montana 1981, US 1980)
39%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.6%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; 21,179 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
Missoula CountyLow19
Idaho County, IDLow16
Deer Lodge CountyVery Low8
Beaverhead CountyLow4
Lemhi County, IDVery Low3
Granite CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Ravalli County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Ravalli County?

Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Ravalli County, about $21.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $6.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Ravalli County had?

Ravalli County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1996, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds in April 2026.

Is Ravalli County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 5th 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 Ravalli County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Ravalli 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 Ravalli County had?

NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Ravalli County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 23, 1975. The weather service has also logged 85 hail reports and 22 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.