Richland County Disaster Risk
Richland County, Montana
FEMA Risk Rating
Relatively Low
National Percentile
53th
of 3,144 counties
State Rank
#15
of 56 (1 = highest risk)
Flood Risk
25th
percentile
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Flood
River, coastal, and surface flooding risk
Very Low
Higher than 25% of US counties
Wildfire
Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk
Relatively Low
Higher than 55% of US counties
Tornado
Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk
Very Low
Higher than 27% of US counties
Earthquake
Seismic activity and ground shaking risk
Very Low
Higher than 8% of US counties
Risk Overview
About Natural Disaster Risk in Richland County, Montana
Richland's risk sits above national norm
Richland County's composite risk score of 52.70 exceeds typical U.S. exposure levels, though its Relatively Low rating indicates manageable overall hazard. The county faces moderate wildfire and tornado risks balanced against lower earthquake exposure.
Moderate risk in Montana context
Richland scores 52.70 against Montana's state average of 33.31, placing it in the mid-range of county risk profiles. This reflects greater-than-average wildfire and tornado vulnerability compared to most state peers.
Comparable to neighboring Roosevelt
Richland (52.70) and Roosevelt County (54.45) show similar overall risk profiles, both driven by wildfire hazard. Richland's tornado risk of 27.00 is notably lower than Roosevelt's 32.09, while earthquake exposure remains minimal in both.
Wildfire and tornado shape exposure
Wildfire risk at 54.99 and tornado risk at 27.00 are Richland's primary concerns, together accounting for most hazard exposure. Flood risk of 25.06 and earthquake risk of 8.37 present secondary considerations.
Cover wildfire, hail, and wind
Standard homeowners insurance typically covers wind and hail damage from tornadoes, but wildfire coverage requires verification or a separate policy rider. Confirm your replacement-cost limits are adequate for your area's construction costs.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor
Preparedness Guide
What to Prepare for in Richland County
Top Hazards by Exposure
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)
Risk Advisory: Richland County
Risk Verdict
Richland County's FEMA risk score places it at the 53th 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 Richland County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 55th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornado ranks second at the 27th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include flood (25th percentile), earthquake (8th percentile).
Preparedness Context
Richland County sits at the 55th percentile for wildfire exposure. Signing up for Richland 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 tornado exposure at the 27th percentile nationally means Richland County residents face hazards from two distinct natural peril categories during different seasons. In Richland 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 19.4 composite points below Richland County's score, a gap that reflects the county's elevated position in the state's hazard distribution.
Is your household prepared for Richland County's hazards?
Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the natural disaster risk in Richland County, MT?
What types of natural hazards affect Richland County?
How does Richland County risk compare to the Montana average?
Is Richland County at risk for wildfire?
How is natural disaster risk measured?
Why is Richland 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.