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Rosebud County, Montana

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

Relatively Low overall risk
18th of 56highest risk in Montana
$9Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Rosebud County, Montana has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 50% of US counties. It ranks 18th of 56 counties in Montana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $8.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,053 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (severe winter storm and straight-line winds). Only 4 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $15,000 on 12 claims here.

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

Top risks in Rosebud County

$4.4 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
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 190 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.

Cold wave

Moderate
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 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 floodingLow56.5
$4M
WildfireModerate95.0
$2M
Cold waveModerate78.5
$2M
LightningLow54.5
$150K
Winter weatherModerate84.8
$147K
HailLow44.0
$114K
Strong windLow17.6
$83K
Heat waveVery Low31.8
$82K
EarthquakeVery Low29.7
$40K
TornadoVery Low10.1
$36K
DroughtLow33.6
$20K
Ice stormVery Low10.3
$3K
LandslideLow67.1
$2K
AvalancheVery Low2.3
$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 very high 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 Rosebud County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire6
Flood4
Hurricane1
Severe Storm1
Straight-Line Winds1

Most recent

Apr 7, 2026Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 30, 2021Richard Spring FireMajor disaster
Aug 10, 2021Richard Spring FireFire management
Sep 3, 2020Snider/Rice Fire ComplexFire management
Apr 17, 2014Ice Jams and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 10, 2013FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 2, 2012WildfireMajor disaster
Jun 27, 2012Ash Creek FireFire management
Jun 17, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 13
Aug 30, 2000WildfiresMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 1978Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 594 storm reports in Rosebud County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $627,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on June 14, 1980.

9tornadoes
333hail reports, largest 6 inches
218damaging thunderstorm winds
28floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 14, 1980F1–0 / 0
Jun 19, 1991F0–0 / 0
Jun 21, 1991F0–0 / 0
Jun 21, 1991F0–0 / 0
Jun 29, 1991F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 21, 2011FloodNichols$225K
Jul 17, 1998WildfireColstrip$200K
May 26, 2010Flash FloodHathaway$130K
Aug 21, 1993HailForsyth$10K
Jul 4, 1998Thunderstorm WindForsyth$10K
Jul 5, 1998LightningForsyth$10K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 17, 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 Rosebud County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (4 policies)
50%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$15,452paid on 12 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $7,634 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 Rosebud County

$182,400median home value (Montana $375,800, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Montana 1981, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17.5%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; 3,779 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
Big Horn CountyLow7
Custer CountyVery Low7
Musselshell CountyVery Low13
Powder River CountyVery Low10
Garfield CountyVery Low10
Treasure CountyVery Low9
Petroleum CountyVery Low10

Common questions about Rosebud County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Rosebud County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Rosebud County, about $4.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $1.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Rosebud County had?

Rosebud County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds in April 2026.

Is Rosebud County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 18th 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 Rosebud County?

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

NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Rosebud County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on June 14, 1980. The weather service has also logged 333 hail reports and 28 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.