riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Yellowstone County Disaster Risk

Yellowstone County, Montana

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

84th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#2

of 56 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

85th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 85% 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 29% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 75% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Yellowstone County

Risk Verdict

Yellowstone County has a relatively moderate overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 84th percentile nationally. While not in the highest tier, this county faces meaningful hazard exposure. Residents are encouraged to understand their specific risks and maintain emergency supplies.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Yellowstone County, scoring in the 93th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 85th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (75th), tornado (29th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Yellowstone 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 flood 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

Yellowstone County is significantly riskier than the average county in Montana. Its composite risk score is 50.2 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

Is your home insured against Yellowstone County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

High flood risk area

Learn about NFIP flood insurance coverage for your property.

Learn More →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Yellowstone County, MT?
Yellowstone County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 84th 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 Yellowstone County?
Yellowstone County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (93th percentile), flooding (85th percentile), earthquake (75th percentile), tornado (29th 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 Yellowstone County risk compare to the Montana average?
Yellowstone County's composite risk percentile is 84th, compared to the Montana state average of 33th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Yellowstone County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Montana.
Is Yellowstone County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Yellowstone County's wildfire risk is at the 93th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Yellowstone County is at the 85th 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 Yellowstone County higher risk than average?
Yellowstone County's composite risk score of 84th percentile is above the Montana state average of 33th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (93th percentile), along with flooding and earthquake 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

Cascade County

Montana

-0.4

Relatively Moderate

83th percentile

Gallatin County

Montana

-2.6

Relatively Moderate

81th percentile

Flathead County

Montana

+2.9

Relatively Moderate

86th 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 Yellowstone County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score