Hill County Disaster Risk
Hill County, Montana
FEMA Risk Rating
Relatively Low
National Percentile
50th
of 3,144 counties
State Rank
#17
of 56 (1 = highest risk)
Flood Risk
43th
percentile
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Flood
River, coastal, and surface flooding risk
Relatively Low
Higher than 43% of US counties
Wildfire
Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk
Relatively Low
Higher than 63% of US counties
Tornado
Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk
Very Low
Higher than 8% of US counties
Earthquake
Seismic activity and ground shaking risk
Very Low
Higher than 20% of US counties
Risk Overview
About Natural Disaster Risk in Hill County, Montana
Hill County faces moderate risk
Hill County's composite risk score of 50.45 sits above the national average, placing it in the relatively low risk category. Your county experiences more natural hazard exposure than typical American counties, driven by flood and wildfire risk.
Above-average risk for Montana
At 50.45, Hill County exceeds Montana's state average of 33.31 by about 50%. Your county ranks in the upper-middle tier of Montana counties for natural disaster risk.
Similar risk to Glacier County
Hill County's score of 50.45 nearly matches Glacier County (51.49), making them among the riskier counties in north-central Montana. Both face elevated flood and wildfire exposure compared to neighboring counties.
Flood and wildfire threaten county
Flood risk (43.42) and wildfire risk (62.79) are your county's dominant hazards. Tornado risk (8.33) is elevated for Montana, while earthquake risk (20.48) remains relatively modest.
Secure flood and wildfire coverage
Your homeowner's insurance must cover both wildfire and flood damage—standard policies often exclude flood, requiring separate coverage. Review your policy immediately and consider flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program if you're in a flood zone.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor
Preparedness Guide
What to Prepare for in Hill County
Top Hazards by Exposure
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)
Risk Advisory: Hill County
Risk Verdict
Hill County's FEMA risk score places it at the 50th percentile nationally, indicating lower-than-typical exposure for a U.S. county. A moderate composite score often means one or two hazard categories are doing the heavy lifting — knowing which ones matters for preparation.
Hazard Breakdown
Wildfire risk is Hill County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 63th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Flood ranks second at the 43th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include earthquake (20th percentile), tornado (8th percentile).
Preparedness Context
Hill County sits at the 63th percentile for wildfire exposure. Signing up for Hill County's county emergency alert system and knowing the pre-planned evacuation route before conditions deteriorate are the two highest-value preparedness actions for residents here. A secondary flood exposure at the 43th percentile nationally means Hill County residents face hazards from two distinct natural peril categories during different seasons. In Hill County, wildfire smoke often precedes the flame front by hours or days; households benefit from tracking EPA's AirNow.gov and having HEPA air filtration available as a first line of indoor protection when air quality alerts are issued.
Regional Context
The Montana county average is 17.1 composite points below Hill County's score, a gap that reflects the county's elevated position in the state's hazard distribution.
Is your household prepared for Hill County's hazards?
Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the natural disaster risk in Hill County, MT?
What types of natural hazards affect Hill County?
How does Hill County risk compare to the Montana average?
Is Hill County at risk for wildfire?
How is natural disaster risk measured?
Why is Hill County higher risk than average?
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.