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Washakie County, Wyoming

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

Very Low overall risk
16th of 23highest risk in Wyoming
$6Mexpected losses a year
3federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Washakie County, Wyoming has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 76% of US counties. It ranks 16th of 23 counties in Wyoming. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $6.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $798 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2017 (flooding). Only 6 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 Washakie County

$4.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.
$655,841 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 345 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$358,760 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow48.6
$5M
EarthquakeLow71.7
$656K
Cold waveLow33.1
$359K
TornadoVery Low15.0
$106K
WildfireLow66.7
$99K
LandslideModerate93.3
$69K
LightningVery Low22.5
$57K
Strong windVery Low6.1
$31K
HailVery Low12.0
$29K
Winter weatherLow32.4
$24K
DroughtVery Low29.5
$17K
Heat waveVery Low7.5
$8K
Ice stormVery Low7.2
$3K
AvalancheVery Low19.0
$22
Volcanic activityVery Low30.9
$2

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 high 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 Washakie County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood2
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Aug 5, 2017FloodingMajor 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 1962

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 137 storm reports in Washakie County since 1962, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $1.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on June 1, 2018 near Ten Sleep.

9tornadoes
49hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
63damaging thunderstorm winds
16floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 1, 2018EF2Ten Sleep0 / 0
Aug 30, 2010EF1Ten Sleep Arpt0 / 0
Jun 17, 1976F0–0 / 0
Jun 18, 1975F0–0 / 0
May 18, 1987F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 5, 2013Thunderstorm WindDurkee$1M
Mar 7, 2014FloodWorland Muni Ar$250K
Jun 29, 2011FloodTen Sleep Arpt$100K
Feb 10, 2017FloodWorland$100K
Aug 30, 2010TornadoTen Sleep Arpt$70K
Aug 30, 2010HailTen Sleep$55K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 27, 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 Washakie County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (6 policies)
9.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 5 flood claims since 1978
2007costliest year

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 Washakie County

$206,000median home value (Wyoming $309,700, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Wyoming 1981, US 1980)
68%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7%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; 3,854 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
Fremont CountyLow4
Park CountyLow2
Big Horn CountyVery Low2
Johnson CountyVery Low5
Hot Springs CountyVery Low2

Common questions about Washakie County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Washakie County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Washakie County, about $4.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $655,841.

How many federal disasters has Washakie County had?

Washakie County has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Flooding in August 2017.

Is Washakie County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 16th 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 Washakie County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Washakie 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 Washakie County had?

NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Washakie County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on June 1, 2018 near Ten Sleep. The weather service has also logged 49 hail reports and 16 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.