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Albany County, Wyoming

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

Relatively Low overall risk
9th of 23highest risk in Wyoming
$18Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Albany County, Wyoming has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 52% of US counties. It ranks 9th of 23 counties in Wyoming. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and lightning. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $488 per resident. Since 2002 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2020 (Mullen Fire). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (52 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $122,000 on 16 claims here.

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

Top risks in Albany County

$6.5 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$6.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$979,107 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 51 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow44.1
$6M
Cold waveModerate86.3
$6M
LightningHigh83.0
$979K
AvalancheModerate83.8
$913K
TornadoLow36.7
$863K
WildfireLow84.7
$782K
EarthquakeLow61.5
$576K
Winter weatherHigh90.6
$493K
HailLow48.3
$286K
Strong windLow21.9
$232K
Ice stormLow50.7
$102K
LandslideModerate88.3
$53K

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 low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Fire6
Severe Storm1
Flood1

Most recent

Sep 26, 2020Mullen FireFire management
Jun 11, 2018Badger Creek FireFire management
Jul 7, 2015Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 2012Squirrel Creek FireFire management
Jun 29, 2012Arapahoe FireFire management
Jul 22, 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2002Wy - Reese Mountain Fire - 07/01/02Fire management
Jun 18, 2002Wy-Hensel Fire-06/07/02Fire management

Wyoming also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 287 storm reports in Albany County since 1953, with 2 deaths and 3 injuries and about $867,530 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on June 6, 2018 near Wyoming.

32tornadoes
130hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
93damaging thunderstorm winds
23floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 6, 2018EF3Wyoming0 / 0
May 22, 2008EF2Perkins1 / 0
Jun 6, 2018EF2Howell0 / 0
Aug 9, 1974F1–0 / 0
Aug 9, 1974F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 5, 1996LightningWheatland$300K
May 22, 2008TornadoPerkins$300K
Aug 13, 2022Flash FloodAlbany$76K
May 23, 1996TornadoLaramie$50K
Jul 3, 2001HailLaramie$50K
Jun 21, 2002Thunderstorm WindLaramie$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 25, 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 Albany County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (52 policies)
7.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$121,770paid on 16 flood claims since 1978
2022costliest year, with $97,444 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 Albany County

$333,000median home value (Wyoming $309,700, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Wyoming 1981, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.7%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; 18,851 housing units.

Compare in Wyoming

All 23 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Laramie CountyLowInland flooding
Natrona CountyLowInland flooding
Campbell CountyLowCold wave
Sweetwater CountyVery LowInland flooding
Fremont CountyLowInland flooding
Albany CountyLowInland flooding
Sheridan CountyLowInland flooding
Park CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Larimer County, COModerate28
Laramie CountyLow3
Carbon CountyVery Low3
Converse CountyVery Low3
Platte CountyVery Low6
Jackson County, COVery Low4

Cities in Albany County

Common questions about Albany County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Albany County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Albany County, about $6.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $6.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Albany County had?

Albany County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2002, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Mullen Fire in September 2020.

Is Albany County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 9th highest of 23 in Wyoming. 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 Albany County?

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

NOAA records list 32 tornadoes in Albany County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on June 6, 2018 near Wyoming. The weather service has also logged 130 hail reports and 23 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.