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Johnson County, Wyoming

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

Very Low overall risk
18th of 23highest risk in Wyoming
$7Mexpected losses a year
5federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Johnson County, Wyoming has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 81% of US counties. It ranks 18th of 23 counties in Wyoming. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $6.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $802 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in November 2024 (wildfires). Only 15 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 Johnson County

$4.1 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.
$958,065 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 290 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$615,748 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow36.9
$4M
WildfireLow87.8
$958K
Cold waveLow39.5
$616K
EarthquakeVery Low57.7
$387K
HailLow46.5
$217K
TornadoVery Low15.6
$145K
Strong windVery Low14.9
$116K
Winter weatherModerate66.7
$110K
LightningLow25.2
$85K
Heat waveVery Low6.7
$9K
LandslideLow74.6
$8K
DroughtVery Low19.6
$4K
Ice stormVery Low6.3
$3K
AvalancheVery Low26.0
$68

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 Johnson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood2
Fire2
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Nov 13, 2024WildfiresMajor disaster
Aug 22, 2024House Draw FireFire management
Jul 7, 2015Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 22, 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
May 29, 1978Severe Storms, Flooding & MudslidesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1961

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 287 storm reports in Johnson County since 1961, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $2.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on June 12, 2017 near Kaycee Gosney Arpt.

23tornadoes
153hail reports, largest 3 inches
70damaging thunderstorm winds
38floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 12, 2017EF2Kaycee Gosney Arpt0 / 0
Jun 1, 2018EF2Mayoworth0 / 0
Aug 11, 1999F1Kaycee0 / 0
Jun 3, 1971F1–0 / 0
Aug 14, 1974F1–2 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 3, 2015Flash FloodBuffalo Arpt$2M
Aug 26, 2002Flash FloodKaycee$459K
May 24, 2015FloodKaycee$300K
Jun 19, 2003Flash FloodBuffalo$60K
Jul 19, 2007Flash FloodKaycee$52K
May 22, 2008FloodBuffalo Arpt$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 8, 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 Johnson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (15 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$21,905paid on 6 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $7,469 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 Johnson County

$326,800median home value (Wyoming $309,700, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (Wyoming 1981, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.8%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; 4,659 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
Sheridan CountyLow5
Converse CountyVery Low3
Big Horn CountyVery Low2
Washakie CountyVery Low3

Common questions about Johnson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Johnson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Johnson County, about $4.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $958,065.

How many federal disasters has Johnson County had?

Johnson County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Wildfires in November 2024.

Is Johnson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 18th 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 Johnson County?

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

NOAA records list 23 tornadoes in Johnson County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on June 12, 2017 near Kaycee Gosney Arpt. The weather service has also logged 153 hail reports and 38 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.