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Sheridan County, Wyoming

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

Relatively Low overall risk
4th of 23highest risk in Wyoming
$26Mexpected losses a year
5federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Sheridan County, Wyoming has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 65% of US counties. It ranks 4th of 23 counties in Wyoming. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $26 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $834 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (Elk Fire). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (50 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $293,000 on 74 claims here.

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

Top risks in Sheridan County

$16.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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
$3.2 million 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 165 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 floodingModerate74.4
$17M
Cold waveModerate77.1
$3M
WildfireModerate93.9
$3M
EarthquakeLow65.5
$649K
Winter weatherHigh93.9
$608K
LightningModerate68.9
$498K
AvalancheModerate80.8
$457K
HailLow60.8
$407K
TornadoVery Low22.2
$303K
Heat waveVery Low33.5
$172K
Strong windVery Low15.9
$140K
LandslideLow76.3
$11K
Ice stormVery Low14.1
$9K
DroughtVery Low23.0
$8K
Volcanic activityVery Low11.1
$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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Fire3
Flood1
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Sep 30, 2024Elk FireFire management
Jul 22, 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Aug 12, 2007Little Goose FireFire management
Nov 20, 2003Wy - Tongue River Wildfire - 11/19/2003Fire management
May 29, 1978Severe Storms, Flooding & MudslidesMajor 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 390 storm reports in Sheridan County since 1953, with 1 death and 0 injuries and about $758,060 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on May 20, 1961.

10tornadoes
219hail reports, largest 3 inches
125damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 20, 1961F1–0 / 0
Jun 7, 1968F1–0 / 0
May 29, 1953F1–0 / 0
Jun 15, 1984F1–0 / 0
Jun 4, 1976F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 20, 2011FloodParkman$520K
May 28, 2019FloodRanchester$125K
May 4, 1993Hail–$50K
May 20, 1961Tornado–$25K
Aug 19, 1998FloodSheridan$20K
Jun 23, 1998Thunderstorm WindSheridan$10K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 19, 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 Sheridan County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (50 policies)
6.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$292,830paid on 74 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $113,852 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 Sheridan County

$394,900median home value (Wyoming $309,700, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Wyoming 1981, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.8%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; 15,461 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
Campbell CountyLow3
Big Horn County, MTLow7
Big Horn CountyVery Low2
Johnson CountyVery Low5
Powder River County, MTVery Low10

Common questions about Sheridan County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Sheridan County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Sheridan County, about $16.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $3.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Sheridan County had?

Sheridan County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Elk Fire in September 2024.

Is Sheridan County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 4th 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 Sheridan County?

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

NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Sheridan County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on May 20, 1961. The weather service has also logged 219 hail reports and 22 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.