riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Musselshell County Disaster Risk

Musselshell County, Montana

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

17th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#34

of 56 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

16th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 16% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 92% 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 21% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Musselshell County

Risk Verdict

Musselshell County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 17th 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 Musselshell County, scoring in the 92th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 21th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (16th), tornado (8th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Musselshell 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

Musselshell County is notably safer than the average county in Montana. Its composite risk score is 16.3 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 Musselshell County, MT?
Musselshell County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 17th 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 Musselshell County?
Musselshell County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (92th percentile), earthquake (21th percentile), flooding (16th percentile), tornado (8th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 92th 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 Musselshell County risk compare to the Montana average?
Musselshell County's composite risk percentile is 17th, compared to the Montana state average of 33th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Musselshell County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Montana.
Is Musselshell County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Musselshell County's wildfire risk is at the 92th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Musselshell County is at the 16th 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 Musselshell County a safe place to live?
Musselshell County's composite risk score of 17th 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 92th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Stillwater County

Montana

-0.3

Very Low

17th percentile

Deer Lodge County

Montana

+0.5

Very Low

18th percentile

Broadwater County

Montana

+0.6

Very Low

18th 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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