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Hot Springs County, Wyoming

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

Very Low overall risk
20th of 23highest risk in Wyoming
$5Mexpected losses a year
2federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Hot Springs County, Wyoming has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 84% of US counties. It ranks 20th of 23 counties in Wyoming. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $4.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,010 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 2 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (1 major disaster). The most recent was in August 2025 (Red Canyon Fire). Only 5 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Hot Springs County

$3.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.
$351,543 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 330 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$291,442 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow39.4
$4M
EarthquakeLow60.8
$352K
Cold waveLow28.9
$291K
LightningLow38.1
$112K
WildfireLow66.4
$98K
LandslideModerate95.0
$95K
TornadoVery Low11.4
$63K
HailVery Low18.5
$49K
AvalancheLow77.2
$30K
Strong windVery Low5.4
$27K
Heat waveVery Low5.4
$5K
Ice stormVery Low4.7
$2K
Winter weatherVery Low2.3
$936
DroughtVery Low16.3
$929
Volcanic activityVery Low13.4
$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 high 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 Hot Springs County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood1
Fire1

Most recent

Aug 15, 2025Red Canyon FireFire management
May 29, 1978Severe Storms, Flooding & MudslidesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1965

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 121 storm reports in Hot Springs County since 1965, with 1 death and 1 injury and about $2.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 10, 2001 near Kirby.

6tornadoes
65hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
38damaging thunderstorm winds
9floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 10, 2001F2Kirby0 / 0
Sep 9, 2024EF0Thermopolis0 / 0
Jun 20, 1985F0–0 / 0
May 29, 2008EF0Hamilton Dome0 / 0
Jun 14, 2009EF0Hamilton Dome0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 24, 2015Flash FloodThermopolis$2M
Jul 1, 2019HailAnchor Reservoir$1M
Jul 15, 2026Flash FloodEast Thermopolis$250K
Jul 2, 2009Flash FloodHamilton Dome$75K
Sep 9, 2024TornadoThermopolis$50K
Jun 20, 1985Tornado–$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 15, 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 Hot Springs County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (5 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
1998costliest year

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 Hot Springs County

$227,500median home value (Wyoming $309,700, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (Wyoming 1981, US 1980)
63%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17.9%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; 2,461 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
Fremont CountyLow4
Park CountyLow2
Washakie CountyVery Low3

Common questions about Hot Springs County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hot Springs County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Hot Springs County, about $3.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $351,543.

How many federal disasters has Hot Springs County had?

Hot Springs County has been included in 2 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 1 major disaster. The most recent was Red Canyon Fire in August 2025.

Is Hot Springs County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 20th 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 Hot Springs County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Hot Springs 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 Hot Springs County had?

NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Hot Springs County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 10, 2001 near Kirby. The weather service has also logged 65 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.