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Stillwater County, Montana

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

Very Low overall risk
35th of 56highest risk in Montana
$9Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Stillwater 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 35th of 56 counties in Montana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $9.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,027 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 14 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). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (54 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.4 million on 60 claims here, including $1.3 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 Stillwater County

$6.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 685 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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 floodingLow36.2
$6M
WildfireLow87.1
$1M
Cold waveLow43.4
$1M
LightningLow39.8
$226K
HailVery Low28.7
$158K
EarthquakeVery Low33.7
$144K
Winter weatherLow51.5
$96K
Strong windVery Low5.8
$56K
Heat waveVery Low14.2
$45K
TornadoVery Low6.6
$44K
DroughtVery Low25.4
$19K
Ice stormVery Low5.4
$4K
LandslideVery Low56.9
$3K
AvalancheVery Low61.3
$2K
Volcanic activityVery Low8.1
$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 low and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood5
Fire5
Severe Storm2
Hurricane1
Straight-Line Winds1

Most recent

Apr 7, 2026Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Oct 11, 2023FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2022Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 2, 2020Falling Star FireFire management
May 24, 2019FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2014Ice Jams and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 17, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 4, 2009Eagle Mount FireFire management
Aug 30, 2006Derby FireFire management
Jul 11, 2006Saunders FireFire management
Show all 14
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 30, 2000WildfiresMajor disaster
Jul 25, 1997Severe Storms,Ice Jams, Snow Melt, 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 293 storm reports in Stillwater County since 1958 and about $3.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on August 11, 2005 near Molt.

1tornadoes
185hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
82damaging thunderstorm winds
18floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 11, 2005F0Molt0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 20, 2011FloodRapelje$2M
Mar 23, 2019FloodAbsarokee$804K
Jul 13, 1998Thunderstorm WindAbsarokee$525K
May 5, 2001WildfireReed Pt$55K
Jul 23, 2000Thunderstorm WindRapelje$20K
Jun 29, 1994Thunderstorm WindOf Billings$5K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 29, 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 Stillwater County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (54 policies)
10.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.4 millionpaid on 60 flood claims since 1978
2022costliest year, with $1.3 million 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 Stillwater County

$405,800median home value (Montana $375,800, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Montana 1981, US 1980)
43%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.4%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; 4,657 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
Park CountyLow12
Carbon CountyLow11
Sweet Grass CountyVery Low8
Golden Valley CountyVery Low8

Common questions about Stillwater County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Stillwater County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Stillwater County, about $6.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $1.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Stillwater County had?

Stillwater County has been included in 14 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 Stillwater County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 35th 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 Stillwater County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Stillwater 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 Stillwater County had?

NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Stillwater County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on August 11, 2005 near Molt. The weather service has also logged 185 hail reports and 18 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.