Sweetwater County, Wyoming
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 52.4 | $8M | ||
| Cold wave | 58.2 | $2M | ||
| Earthquake | 65.6 | $728K | ||
| Winter weather | 85.6 | $339K | ||
| Lightning | 55.9 | $337K | ||
| Wildfire | 66.2 | $151K | ||
| Strong wind | 10.2 | $87K | ||
| Landslide | 90.6 | $71K | ||
| Tornado | 9.4 | $66K | ||
| Hail | 14.4 | $56K | ||
| Ice storm | 16.1 | $13K | ||
| Drought | 19.6 | $4K | ||
| Avalanche | 12.6 | $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
Most recent
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 14, 2000 | F1 | James Town | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 27, 1974 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 9, 1973 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 31, 1978 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 20, 2001 | F1 | James Town | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 28, 2021 | Flash Flood | Blairtown | $750K |
| Apr 25, 2009 | Hail | Red Desert | $700K |
| Apr 13, 2002 | Wildfire | Superior | $261K |
| Aug 17, 2007 | Flash Flood | Green River | $250K |
| Jul 7, 2015 | Flash Flood | Blairtown | $250K |
| Apr 14, 2000 | Tornado | James 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Summit County, UT | 8 | |
| Fremont County | 4 | |
| Uinta County | 3 | |
| Lincoln County | 3 | |
| Carbon County | 3 | |
| Moffat County, CO | 4 | |
| Sublette County | 2 | |
| Daggett County, UT | 5 |
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.