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Sweetwater County, Wyoming

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

Very Low overall risk
13th of 23highest risk in Wyoming
$12Mexpected losses a year
2federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Sweetwater County, Wyoming has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 69% of US counties. It ranks 13th of 23 counties in Wyoming. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $275 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 2 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (1 major disaster). The most recent was in July 2011 (severe storms, flooding and landslides). Only 47 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $901,000 on 22 claims here.

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

Top risks in Sweetwater County

$8.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$728,062 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 270 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow52.4
$8M
Cold waveLow58.2
$2M
EarthquakeLow65.6
$728K
Winter weatherHigh85.6
$339K
LightningLow55.9
$337K
WildfireLow66.2
$151K
Strong windVery Low10.2
$87K
LandslideModerate90.6
$71K
TornadoVery Low9.4
$66K
HailVery Low14.4
$56K
Ice stormVery Low16.1
$13K
DroughtVery Low19.6
$4K
AvalancheVery Low12.6
$14

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 low 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 Sweetwater County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Drought1
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Jul 22, 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Jun 15, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 185 storm reports in Sweetwater County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 12 injuries and about $2.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on April 14, 2000 near James Town.

26tornadoes
13hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
128damaging thunderstorm winds
12floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 14, 2000F1James Town0 / 0
Jun 27, 1974F1–0 / 0
Sep 9, 1973F1–0 / 0
Jul 31, 1978F1–0 / 0
Apr 20, 2001F1James Town0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 28, 2021Flash FloodBlairtown$750K
Apr 25, 2009HailRed Desert$700K
Apr 13, 2002WildfireSuperior$261K
Aug 17, 2007Flash FloodGreen River$250K
Jul 7, 2015Flash FloodBlairtown$250K
Apr 14, 2000TornadoJames Town$30K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 Sweetwater County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (47 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$901,085paid on 22 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $855,981 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 Sweetwater County

$251,400median home value (Wyoming $309,700, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (Wyoming 1981, US 1980)
51%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.1%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; 19,289 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
Summit County, UTLow8
Fremont CountyLow4
Uinta CountyVery Low3
Lincoln CountyLow3
Carbon CountyVery Low3
Moffat County, COVery Low4
Sublette CountyVery Low2
Daggett County, UTVery Low5

Common questions about Sweetwater County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Sweetwater County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Sweetwater County, about $8.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Sweetwater County had?

Sweetwater County has been included in 2 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 1 major disaster. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides in July 2011.

Is Sweetwater County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 13th 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 Sweetwater County?

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

NOAA records list 26 tornadoes in Sweetwater County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on April 14, 2000 near James Town. The weather service has also logged 13 hail reports and 12 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.