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Valley County, Montana

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

Very Low overall risk
27th of 56highest risk in Montana
$11Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Valley County, Montana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 64% of US counties. It ranks 27th of 56 counties in Montana. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,483 per resident. Since 1986 it has been included in 11 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). Only 17 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.5 million on 250 claims here, including $1.0 million for floods in 2011.

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

Top risks in Valley County

Cold wave

Moderate
$5.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 19 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$3.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times 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.

Hail

Moderate
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveModerate85.7
$5M
Inland floodingVery Low34.2
$4M
HailModerate88.1
$1M
Strong windLow17.2
$148K
TornadoVery Low14.6
$134K
Heat waveVery Low25.3
$98K
Winter weatherModerate61.5
$94K
DroughtLow37.6
$53K
LightningVery Low15.6
$52K
WildfireVery Low49.5
$45K
EarthquakeVery Low23.0
$36K
Ice stormVery Low8.4
$4K
LandslideVery Low42.0
$751

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood6
Severe Storm3
Hurricane1
Straight-Line Winds1

Most recent

Apr 7, 2026Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Aug 12, 2023FloodingMajor disaster
May 24, 2019FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2018FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 9, 2014Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 10, 2013FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 17, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 25, 1997Severe Storms,Ice Jams, Snow Melt, FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 11
Mar 15, 1986Heavy Rains, Landslides & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 1,242 storm reports in Valley County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $41.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on August 4, 1962.

44tornadoes
470hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
580damaging thunderstorm winds
117floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 4, 1962F2–0 / 0
Jun 25, 1975F2–0 / 0
Jun 11, 1972F2–0 / 0
Jun 25, 1975F2–0 / 0
Jul 18, 2022EF2Glentana0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 16, 2007HailGlasgow$23M
Jun 16, 2007HailNashua$8M
Jul 21, 1999HailGlasgow$2M
Aug 24, 2014FloodGlasgow$1M
Jun 20, 2005HailFt Peck$900K
Aug 6, 2010Thunderstorm WindNashua$750K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 30, 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 Valley County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (17 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.5 millionpaid on 250 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $1 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 Valley County

$198,400median home value (Montana $375,800, US $332,700)
1966median year homes were built (Montana 1981, US 1980)
81%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.5%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; 4,254 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
Roosevelt CountyLow5
Phillips CountyVery Low8
McCone CountyVery Low7
Daniels CountyVery Low6
Garfield CountyVery Low10

Common questions about Valley County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Valley County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Valley County, about $5.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $3.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Valley County had?

Valley County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1986, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds in April 2026.

Is Valley County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 27th 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 Valley County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Valley 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 Valley County had?

NOAA records list 44 tornadoes in Valley County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on August 4, 1962. The weather service has also logged 470 hail reports and 117 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.