Carbon County
Montana — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 60th
Carbon County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 59.8, 60th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $16M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | High | 2.50 / yr | $854K |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Medium | 34.91 / yr | $490K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.64 / yr | $11M |
| Avalanche | Low | 0.13 / yr | $3K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 21.02 / yr | $93K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 2.35 / yr | $1M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $254K |
| Hail | Low | 1.31 / yr | $174K |
| Drought | Low | 75.18 / yr | $41K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $1 |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 1.07 / yr | $52K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $141K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.69 / yr | $65K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $4K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Carbon County?
Carbon County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 59.8 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 60th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Carbon County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (High, $854K EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $2M EAL), Lightning (Medium, $490K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Carbon County compare to other Montana counties?
Carbon County ranks #12 of 56 Montana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Carbon County's $16M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.