riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Granite County Disaster Risk

Granite County, Montana

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

9th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#40

of 56 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

11th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 11% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 89% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 3% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 38% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Granite County

Risk Verdict

Granite County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 9th 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 Granite County, scoring in the 89th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 38th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (11th), tornado (3th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Granite 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

Granite County is notably safer than the average county in Montana. Its composite risk score is 23.9 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 Granite County, MT?
Granite County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 9th 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 Granite County?
Granite County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (89th percentile), earthquake (38th percentile), flooding (11th percentile), tornado (3th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 89th 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 Granite County risk compare to the Montana average?
Granite County's composite risk percentile is 9th, compared to the Montana state average of 33th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Granite County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Montana.
Is Granite County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Granite County's wildfire risk is at the 89th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Granite County is at the 11th 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 Granite County a safe place to live?
Granite County's composite risk score of 9th 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 89th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Powell County

Montana

+0.6

Very Low

10th percentile

Sweet Grass County

Montana

-1.2

Very Low

8th percentile

Wibaux County

Montana

+1.7

Very Low

11th 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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