Platte County, Wyoming
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Platte County, Wyoming has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 74% of US counties. It ranks 15th of 23 counties in Wyoming. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $5.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $683 per resident. Since 2000 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Pleasant Valley Fire). Only 7 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 Platte County
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 33.2 | $3M | ||
| Cold wave | 66.4 | $1M | ||
| Wildfire | 87.6 | $661K | ||
| Tornado | 33.6 | $427K | ||
| Hail | 65.4 | $310K | ||
| Winter weather | 80.9 | $150K | ||
| Strong wind | 23.3 | $146K | ||
| Lightning | 45.8 | $137K | ||
| Earthquake | 40.6 | $108K | ||
| Ice storm | 48.7 | $54K | ||
| Drought | 36.5 | $33K | ||
| Heat wave | 9.3 | $11K | ||
| Landslide | 43.1 | $556 | ||
| Avalanche | 4.2 | $1 |
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 very 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 Platte County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
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 567 storm reports in Platte County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $1.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 27, 1955.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 27, 1955 | F3 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Jun 7, 2012 | EF2 | Wheatland | 1 / 0 |
| Sep 18, 1986 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 2, 1991 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 14, 1994 | F1 | Wheatland | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | – | $500K |
| Sep 18, 1986 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 2, 1991 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Sep 14, 1996 | Flash Flood | Chugwater | $100K |
| Jul 2, 2009 | Hail | Chugwater | $100K |
| Jul 14, 1994 | Tornado | Wheatland | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 29, 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 Platte County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Platte County
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; 4,688 housing units.
Compare in Wyoming
All 23 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Laramie County | Inland flooding | |
| Natrona County | Inland flooding | |
| Campbell County | Cold wave | |
| Sweetwater County | Inland flooding | |
| Fremont County | Inland flooding | |
| Albany County | Inland flooding | |
| Sheridan County | Inland flooding | |
| Park County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Laramie County | 3 | |
| Albany County | 8 | |
| Converse County | 3 | |
| Goshen County | 3 | |
| Niobrara County | 3 |
Common questions about Platte County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Platte County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Platte County, about $2.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.2 million.
How many federal disasters has Platte County had?
Platte County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2000, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Pleasant Valley Fire in July 2024.
Is Platte County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 15th 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 Platte County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Platte 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 Platte County had?
NOAA records list 50 tornadoes in Platte County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 27, 1955. The weather service has also logged 388 hail reports and 32 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.