riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Wheatland County Disaster Risk

Wheatland County, Montana

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

3th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#49

of 56 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

12th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 12% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 51% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 6% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 24% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Wheatland County

Risk Verdict

Wheatland County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 3th 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 Wheatland County, scoring in the 51th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 24th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (12th), tornado (6th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Wheatland 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

Wheatland County is notably safer than the average county in Montana. Its composite risk score is 29.8 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

Is your home insured against Wheatland County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Wheatland County, MT?
Wheatland County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 3th 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 Wheatland County?
Wheatland County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (51th percentile), earthquake (24th percentile), flooding (12th percentile), tornado (6th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 51th 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 Wheatland County risk compare to the Montana average?
Wheatland County's composite risk percentile is 3th, compared to the Montana state average of 33th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Wheatland County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Montana.
Is Wheatland County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Wheatland County's wildfire risk is at the 51th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Wheatland County is at the 12th 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 Wheatland County a safe place to live?
Wheatland County's composite risk score of 3th 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 51th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Powder River County

Montana

+0.5

Very Low

4th percentile

Meagher County

Montana

-0.7

Very Low

3th percentile

Prairie County

Montana

+0.7

Very Low

4th 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.

Explore more data for Wheatland County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score