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Goshen County, Wyoming

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

Very Low overall risk
14th of 23highest risk in Wyoming
$10Mexpected losses a year
3federal declarations
1 in 71homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Goshen County, Wyoming has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 72% of US counties. It ranks 14th of 23 counties in Wyoming. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and hail. FEMA estimates about $9.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $763 per resident. Since 1999 it has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2011 (severe storms, flooding and landslides). About 1 in 71 homes here carry federal flood insurance (104 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $51,000 on 12 claims here.

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

Top risks in Goshen County

$3.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.1 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.

Hail

Moderate
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times 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
Inland floodingVery Low31.0
$4M
Cold waveModerate69.3
$2M
HailModerate86.7
$1M
TornadoLow47.0
$1M
WildfireLow72.6
$218K
DroughtLow55.4
$216K
Winter weatherModerate79.6
$207K
LightningLow40.4
$166K
Strong windLow17.2
$152K
EarthquakeVery Low38.9
$144K
Ice stormLow50.3
$87K
Heat waveVery Low13.6
$31K
LandslideVery Low20.3
$124
AvalancheVery Low0.7
$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 relatively low 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 Goshen County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm2
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Jul 22, 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Dec 13, 2000Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 17, 1999Wy - Winter Storm 10/5/98Major disaster

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 692 storm reports in Goshen County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $9.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 26, 1955.

93tornadoes
460hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
98damaging thunderstorm winds
35floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 26, 1955F3–0 / 0
Jun 12, 2017EF2Lingle1 / 0
Jul 28, 1978F2–0 / 0
Jun 23, 2023EF2Hawk Springs1 / 0
Jun 14, 1963F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 28, 1979Tornado–$3M
Jun 22, 1984Tornado–$3M
Jun 26, 1999HailYoder$2M
Jun 12, 2017TornadoLingle$597K
Jun 26, 1999HailLa Grange$500K
May 5, 1969Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 20, 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 Goshen County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (104 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$51,066paid on 12 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $37,104 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 Goshen County

$239,600median home value (Wyoming $309,700, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Wyoming 1981, US 1980)
64%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.8%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; 5,856 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
Laramie CountyLow3
Scotts Bluff County, NELow8
Platte CountyVery Low6
Niobrara CountyVery Low3
Sioux County, NEVery Low12
Banner County, NEVery Low6

Common questions about Goshen County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Goshen County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Goshen County, about $3.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $2.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Goshen County had?

Goshen County has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1999, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides in July 2011.

Is Goshen County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 14th 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 Goshen County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 71 homes in Goshen 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 Goshen County had?

NOAA records list 93 tornadoes in Goshen County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 26, 1955. The weather service has also logged 460 hail reports and 35 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.