riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Garfield County Disaster Risk

Garfield County, Montana

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

2th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#51

of 56 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

5th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 5% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 78% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 4% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 6% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Garfield County

Risk Verdict

Garfield County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 2th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Garfield County, scoring in the 78th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 6th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (5th), tornado (4th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Garfield 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 earthquake 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

Garfield County is notably safer than the average county in Montana. Its composite risk score is 30.8 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Garfield County, MT?
Garfield County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 2th 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 Garfield County?
Garfield County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (78th percentile), earthquake (6th percentile), flooding (5th percentile), tornado (4th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 78th 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 Garfield County risk compare to the Montana average?
Garfield County's composite risk percentile is 2th, compared to the Montana state average of 33th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Garfield County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Montana.
Is Garfield County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Garfield County's wildfire risk is at the 78th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Garfield County is at the 5th 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.
Is Garfield County a safe place to live?
Garfield County's composite risk score of 2th percentile is below the Montana state average of 33th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is wildfire at the 78th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Meagher County

Montana

+0.3

Very Low

3th percentile

Daniels County

Montana

-0.7

Very Low

2th percentile

Carter County

Montana

-0.7

Very Low

2th 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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