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Converse County, Wyoming

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

Very Low overall risk
11th of 23highest risk in Wyoming
$10Mexpected losses a year
3federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Converse County, Wyoming has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 69% of US counties. It ranks 11th of 23 counties in Wyoming. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $9.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $708 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (1 major disaster). The most recent was in June 2012 (Arapahoe Fire). Only 22 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $118,000 on 14 claims here.

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

Top risks in Converse County

$4.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 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
$2.2 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 275 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow40.4
$5M
Cold waveModerate72.1
$2M
WildfireModerate91.1
$2M
EarthquakeVery Low55.3
$347K
TornadoVery Low24.2
$326K
Winter weatherModerate84.2
$248K
HailLow39.7
$168K
LightningLow37.1
$137K
Strong windVery Low5.0
$33K
Ice stormVery Low17.2
$12K
Heat waveVery Low7.0
$10K
DroughtVery Low23.1
$8K
LandslideVery Low60.1
$3K
AvalancheVery Low8.9
$6

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Fire2
Flood1

Most recent

Jun 29, 2012Arapahoe FireFire management
Jun 18, 2002Wy-Hensel Fire-06/07/02Fire management
May 29, 1978Severe Storms, Flooding & MudslidesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 269 storm reports in Converse County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 6 injuries and about $187,090 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on July 28, 2018 near Douglas.

47tornadoes
160hail reports, largest 4 inches
56damaging thunderstorm winds
5floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 28, 2018EF3Douglas0 / 0
Jun 5, 1982F2–1 / 0
Jun 14, 1965F1–1 / 0
Jun 5, 1982F1–3 / 0
Jun 13, 1984F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 15, 1996HailDouglas$30K
Jun 14, 1965Tornado–$25K
Jun 5, 1982Tornado–$25K
Jun 5, 1982Tornado–$25K
Jun 13, 1984Tornado–$25K
Jul 12, 2009HailDouglas$15K

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 Converse County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (22 policies)
4.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$118,386paid on 14 flood claims since 1978
2023costliest year, with $66,507 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 Converse County

$292,700median home value (Wyoming $309,700, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Wyoming 1981, US 1980)
57%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.1%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; 6,646 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
Campbell CountyLow3
Albany CountyLow8
Carbon CountyVery Low3
Platte CountyVery Low6
Johnson CountyVery Low5
Weston CountyVery Low5
Niobrara CountyVery Low3

Common questions about Converse County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Converse County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Converse County, about $4.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $2.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Converse County had?

Converse County has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 1 major disaster. The most recent was Arapahoe Fire in June 2012.

Is Converse County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 11th 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 Converse County?

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

NOAA records list 47 tornadoes in Converse County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on July 28, 2018 near Douglas. The weather service has also logged 160 hail reports and 5 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.