riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Cascade County Disaster Risk

Cascade County, Montana

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

83th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#3

of 56 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

83th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 83% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 84% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 21% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 72% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Cascade County

Risk Verdict

Cascade County has a relatively moderate overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 83th percentile nationally. While not in the highest tier, this county faces meaningful hazard exposure. Residents are encouraged to understand their specific risks and maintain emergency supplies.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Cascade County, scoring in the 84th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 83th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (72th), tornado (21th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Cascade County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as flood also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Cascade County is significantly riskier than the average county in Montana. Its composite risk score is 49.8 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Cascade County, MT?
Cascade County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 83th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Cascade County?
Cascade County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (84th percentile), flooding (83th percentile), earthquake (72th percentile), tornado (21th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 84th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Cascade County risk compare to the Montana average?
Cascade County's composite risk percentile is 83th, compared to the Montana state average of 33th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Cascade County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Montana.
Is Cascade County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Cascade County's wildfire risk is at the 84th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Cascade County is at the 83th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Why is Cascade County higher risk than average?
Cascade County's composite risk score of 83th percentile is above the Montana state average of 33th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (84th percentile), along with flooding and earthquake risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Yellowstone County

Montana

+0.4

Relatively Moderate

84th percentile

Gallatin County

Montana

-2.2

Relatively Moderate

81th percentile

Flathead County

Montana

+3.3

Relatively Moderate

86th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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