riskbycounty
FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Lake County Disaster Risk

Lake County, Montana

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

68th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#8

of 56 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

57th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 57% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 93% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 3% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 92% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Lake County, Montana

Lake County faces elevated risk

Lake County's composite risk score of 67.65 exceeds the national average and places it in the relatively low risk category. Your county experiences above-average natural hazard exposure, driven by wildfire and earthquake risk.

Montana's highest-risk county

At 67.65, Lake County has the highest composite risk score in Montana, far exceeding the state average of 33.31. Your county faces the most significant natural disaster exposure in the state.

Riskiest county in northwestern Montana

Lake County's score of 67.65 significantly exceeds neighboring Glacier (51.49) and Hill (50.45). Your county faces considerably more natural hazard exposure than surrounding counties in the region.

Earthquake and wildfire dominate

Earthquake risk (92.30) and wildfire risk (92.65) are exceptionally high in Lake County, making them your primary concerns. Flood risk (57.16) is also elevated, while tornado risk (3.28) remains minimal.

Secure comprehensive hazard coverage now

Your homeowner's insurance must cover wildfire, earthquake, and flood—three significant risks in your county. Work with an agent immediately to ensure full coverage and consider additional liability protection given your elevated exposure profile.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Lake County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    WildfirePrepare
    93th percentile
  2. #2
    EarthquakePrepare
    92th percentile
  3. #3
    FloodPrepare
    57th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Lake County

Risk Verdict

Natural hazard pressure in Lake County is below the national midpoint, with a composite score at the 68th percentile. Proactive emergency planning and awareness of the specific hazards driving Lake County's score can meaningfully reduce household risk.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is Lake County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 93th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Earthquake ranks second at the 92th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include flood (57th percentile), tornado (3th percentile).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire ranked at the 93th percentile nationally, Lake County is in a zone where air quality can deteriorate rapidly before structures are threatened. An N95 respirator and a HEPA air purifier are practical items for Lake County households to have on hand before fire season. A secondary earthquake exposure at the 92th percentile nationally means Lake County residents face hazards from two distinct natural peril categories during different seasons. Defensible space, insurance review, and an evacuation plan are the three preparedness pillars for Lake County households — and the insurance review is the one most often deferred by Lake County residents and most costly to skip when a fire event actually occurs.

Regional Context

Lake County is 34.3 composite risk points above the Montana average, indicating that residents face greater natural hazard exposure than most of their in-state neighbors.

Is your household prepared for Lake County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Lake County, MT?
Lake County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 68th 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 Lake County?
Lake County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (93th percentile), earthquake (92th percentile), flooding (57th percentile), tornado (3th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 93th 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 Lake County risk compare to the Montana average?
Lake County's composite risk percentile is 68th, compared to the Montana state average of 33th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Lake County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Montana.
Is Lake County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Lake County's wildfire risk is at the 93th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Lake County is at the 57th 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 Lake County higher risk than average?
Lake County's composite risk score of 68th percentile is above the Montana state average of 33th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (93th percentile), along with earthquake and flooding 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

Park County

Montana

-1.4

Relatively Low

66th percentile

Lincoln County

Montana

-3.4

Relatively Low

64th percentile

Lewis and Clark County

Montana

+3.6

Relatively Low

71th percentile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, 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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