Stillwater County, Montana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 36.2 | $6M | ||
| Wildfire | 87.1 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 43.4 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 39.8 | $226K | ||
| Hail | 28.7 | $158K | ||
| Earthquake | 33.7 | $144K | ||
| Winter weather | 51.5 | $96K | ||
| Strong wind | 5.8 | $56K | ||
| Heat wave | 14.2 | $45K | ||
| Tornado | 6.6 | $44K | ||
| Drought | 25.4 | $19K | ||
| Ice storm | 5.4 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 56.9 | $3K | ||
| Avalanche | 61.3 | $2K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 8.1 | $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
Most recent
Show all 14
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 11, 2005 | F0 | Molt | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2011 | Flood | Rapelje | $2M |
| Mar 23, 2019 | Flood | Absarokee | $804K |
| Jul 13, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Absarokee | $525K |
| May 5, 2001 | Wildfire | Reed Pt | $55K |
| Jul 23, 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Rapelje | $20K |
| Jun 29, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Of 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone County | 12 | |
| Park County | 12 | |
| Carbon County | 11 | |
| Sweet Grass County | 8 | |
| Golden Valley County | 8 |
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.