Lewis and Clark County, Montana: hazard risk
FEMA rates Lewis and Clark County's overall risk Relatively Low (score 71.2 of 100, higher than 71% of rated U.S. counties); 2 of its 14 hazards are rated Relatively High or Very High, led by winter weather, cold wave. Its storm record holds 1,610 events since 1950.
FEMA's rating for each hazard
These are FEMA's county-wide model ratings and this county's storm record. They are not an assessment of any property, address or building, and not insurance advice: a property's risk depends on its own elevation, construction and location.
FEMA gives each hazard its own rating, and a rating does not follow the score from one hazard to the next: a hazard with a higher score can carry a lower rating than another. The table sorts by FEMA's rating, then by score (0 to 100, the county against every other county for that hazard).
| Hazard | Risk rating | Score | Expected annual loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather | Very High | 98.1 | $1.6M |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 94.6 | $13M |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 95.2 | $154K |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | 92.8 | $2.5M |
| Avalanche | Relatively Moderate | 79.8 | $457K |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 66.3 | $504K |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 86.8 | $3.8M |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | 64.6 | $12M |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 21.2 | $226K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 35.4 | $213K |
| Drought | Very Low | 22.8 | $9K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 15.7 | $12K |
| Hail | Very Low | 10.2 | $38K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 8.9 | $62K |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release. A model of future loss, not a count of past events. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
What the record holds
| Hazard | Records | Deaths | Damage | Rank in state | Rank in U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High wind and dust storms | 746 | 0 | $573K | 6th of 56 | 218th of 3,080 |
| Winter storms | 463 | 1 | $3.7M | 19th of 56 | 1638th of 3,077 |
| Hail | 118 | 0 | $4K | 39th of 56 | 2707th of 3,080 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 114 | 0 | $34K | 29th of 56 | 2730th of 3,080 |
| Extreme cold | 46 | 0 | – | 30th of 56 | 2023rd of 3,076 |
| Floods | 41 | 0 | $1.3M | 19th of 56 | 2746th of 3,080 |
| Wildfires | 32 | 0 | $8.6M | 1st of 56 | 308th of 2,972 |
| Heavy rain | 29 | 0 | – | 22nd of 56 | 1738th of 3,080 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 4 | 0 | $22K | 18th of 56 | 328th of 2,278 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 0 | $4K | 39th of 56 | 2897th of 3,080 |
| Lightning | 3 | 0 | – | 12th of 56 | 2286th of 3,080 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026-06-30; damage in 2025 dollars. Search the record at NCEI.
The full Lewis and Clark County record: every hazard by year and month, the deadliest events and FEMA's declarations.