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 Overview
About Natural Disaster Risk in Yellowstone County, Montana
Yellowstone County faces significant national risk
Yellowstone County's composite risk score of 83.56 with a Relatively Moderate rating places it among the higher-risk counties across the United States. Your exposure to multiple hazard types—particularly floods (84.54) and wildfires (93.45)—substantially exceeds the national average.
Montana's highest-risk county
At 83.56, Yellowstone County's composite risk is more than 2.5 times higher than Montana's state average of 33.31, making it the most hazard-exposed county in the entire state. Your vulnerability across flood, wildfire, earthquake, and tornado hazards is unmatched in Montana.
Far riskier than surrounding counties
Yellowstone's 83.56 score dramatically exceeds all neighboring counties, including Valley (35.94) and Wheatland (3.50), by enormous margins. Your county stands alone in Montana for concentrated natural disaster risk, primarily due to Billings' urban footprint and the Yellowstone River's presence.
Floods and wildfires are critical
Flood risk of 84.54 and wildfire risk of 93.45 are your county's dominant hazards, far exceeding state and national norms for both. Additionally, earthquake risk (74.65) and tornado risk (28.94) create a complex hazard environment requiring comprehensive preparedness.
Comprehensive insurance is mandatory
Flood insurance, wildfire coverage, and earthquake protection are all essential for Yellowstone County property owners—standard policies exclude these perils. Given your county's exceptional risk profile, consulting with an insurance agent about bundled multi-hazard coverage is strongly advised.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor
Preparedness Guide
What to Prepare for in Yellowstone County
Top Hazards by Exposure
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)
Risk Advisory: Yellowstone County
Risk Verdict
At the 84th percentile nationally, Yellowstone County sits in the upper half of U.S. counties for natural disaster exposure. At this risk level, having a documented household preparedness plan — not just awareness — is the meaningful next step for Yellowstone County residents.
Hazard Breakdown
Wildfire risk is Yellowstone County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 93th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Flood ranks second at the 85th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include earthquake (75th percentile), tornado (29th percentile).
Preparedness Context
Yellowstone County sits at the 93th percentile for wildfire exposure. Signing up for Yellowstone 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. Alongside wildfire, flood at the 85th percentile nationally means a multi-season preparedness mindset — fire season and flood or storm season often require different household plans. In Yellowstone 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 50.2 composite points below Yellowstone County's score, a gap that reflects the county's elevated position in the state's hazard distribution.
Is your household prepared for Yellowstone County's hazards?
Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the natural disaster risk in Yellowstone County, MT?
What types of natural hazards affect Yellowstone County?
How does Yellowstone County risk compare to the Montana average?
Is Yellowstone County at risk for wildfire?
How is natural disaster risk measured?
Why is Yellowstone 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.