riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Silver Bow County Disaster Risk

Silver Bow County, Montana

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

38th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#26

of 56 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

22th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 22% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 81% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 10% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 87% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Silver Bow County

Risk Verdict

Silver Bow County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 38th 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

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Silver Bow County, scoring in the 87th percentile nationally. It is followed by wildfire risk at the 81th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (22th), tornado (10th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Silver Bow County residents should secure heavy furniture and appliances, know how to shut off utilities, and keep emergency supplies accessible. Secondary risks such as wildfire 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

Silver Bow County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Montana. Its composite risk score is within 4.7 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of Montana as a whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Silver Bow County, MT?
Silver Bow County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 38th 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 Silver Bow County?
Silver Bow County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (87th percentile), wildfire (81th percentile), flooding (22th percentile), tornado (10th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 87th 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 Silver Bow County risk compare to the Montana average?
Silver Bow County's composite risk percentile is 38th, compared to the Montana state average of 33th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Silver Bow County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Montana.
Is Silver Bow County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Silver Bow County's earthquake risk is at the 87th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Silver Bow County is at the 22th 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 Silver Bow County higher risk than average?
Silver Bow County's composite risk score of 38th percentile is above the Montana state average of 33th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by earthquake exposure (87th percentile), along with wildfire 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

Chouteau County

Montana

+1.4

Very Low

39th percentile

Valley County

Montana

-2.1

Very Low

36th percentile

Madison County

Montana

+3.0

Very Low

41th 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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