Home › Wyoming › Carbon County

Carbon County, Wyoming

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

Very Low overall risk
10th of 23highest risk in Wyoming
$12Mexpected losses a year
3federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Carbon County, Wyoming has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 57% of US counties. It ranks 10th of 23 counties in Wyoming. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and avalanches. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $854 per resident. Since 2011 it has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (1 major disaster). The most recent was in September 2020 (Mullen Fire). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (64 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $117,000 on 34 claims here.

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

Top risks in Carbon County

$6.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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
$2 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.
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 8 years.
  • Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
  • Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow50.3
$6M
Cold waveModerate70.1
$2M
AvalancheHigh92.1
$2M
LightningHigh89.8
$1M
WildfireLow81.9
$457K
EarthquakeLow60.7
$430K
Winter weatherModerate71.9
$130K
Ice stormLow53.2
$90K
Strong windVery Low9.6
$63K
LandslideModerate89.7
$51K
TornadoVery Low8.6
$47K
HailVery Low5.1
$11K
DroughtVery Low20.5
$4K

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Fire2
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Sep 26, 2020Mullen FireFire management
Sep 5, 2020316 FireFire management
Jul 22, 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 239 storm reports in Carbon County since 1958, with 6 deaths and 7 injuries and about $450,650 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 2, 1976.

18tornadoes
36hail reports, largest 2 inches
173damaging thunderstorm winds
9floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 2, 1976F2–0 / 0
Jun 15, 1966F1–0 / 0
Jul 20, 1958F1–0 / 0
May 29, 1964F1–0 / 0
Jun 6, 2020EF1Ten Mile0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 2, 1976Tornado–$250K
Apr 14, 2000Thunderstorm WindRawlins Arpt$100K
Apr 20, 2001Thunderstorm WindRawlins$50K
Jun 15, 1966Tornado–$25K
Jul 15, 1967Tornado–$25K
Aug 2, 1995Thunderstorm WindHanna$500

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 26, 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 Carbon County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (64 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$116,596paid on 34 flood claims since 1978
1984costliest year, with $77,010 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 Carbon County

$222,700median home value (Wyoming $309,700, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Wyoming 1981, US 1980)
67%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
15.4%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; 8,236 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
Natrona CountyLow6
Sweetwater CountyVery Low2
Fremont CountyLow4
Albany CountyLow8
Routt County, COVery Low4
Converse CountyVery Low3
Moffat County, COVery Low4
Jackson County, COVery Low4

Common questions about Carbon County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Carbon County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Carbon County, about $6.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $2 million.

How many federal disasters has Carbon County had?

Carbon County has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2011, including 1 major disaster. The most recent was Mullen Fire in September 2020.

Is Carbon County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 10th 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 Carbon County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Carbon 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 Carbon County had?

NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in Carbon County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 2, 1976. The weather service has also logged 36 hail reports and 9 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.