Roosevelt County, Montana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MT
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 54th
Roosevelt County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 54.5, 54th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Roosevelt County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 54.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 54th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Roosevelt County's expected losses come from cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at High risk — $6M in expected annual loss and about 18.76 events per year; winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at High risk — $238K in expected annual loss and about 18.65 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $826K in expected annual loss and about 1.49 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $10M in expected annual loss for a population of 11K.
Beyond physical exposure, Roosevelt County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Roosevelt County has received 8 federal disaster declarations since 1997, including 3 for severe storm events and 2 for biological events. The most recent was Flooding (flood), declared in August 2023.
Among 56 Montana counties, Roosevelt County ranks #14 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | High | 18.76 / yr | $6M |
| Winter Weather | High | 18.65 / yr | $238K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.49 / yr | $826K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $121K |
| Hail | Low | 1.83 / yr | $195K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 2.48 / yr | $191K |
| Drought | Low | 37.08 / yr | $41K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.09 / yr | $30K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.25 / yr | $322K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.39 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Low | 26.11 / yr | $48K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.44 / yr | $93 |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $10K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Roosevelt County has received 8 federal disaster declarations since 1997, most recently Flooding in August 2023. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (3), Biological (2), Flood (1).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | Flood | Flooding |
| August 2021 | Other | Straight-Line Winds |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| June 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| December 2000 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| July 1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms,Ice Jams, Snow Melt, Flooding |
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Roosevelt County?
Roosevelt County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 54.5 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 54th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Roosevelt County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (High, $6M EAL), Winter Weather (High, $238K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $826K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Roosevelt County compare to other Montana counties?
Roosevelt County ranks #14 of 56 Montana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Roosevelt County had?
FEMA records 8 federal disaster declarations for Roosevelt County since 1997, most often 3 for severe storm events and 2 for biological events. The most recent was Flooding, declared in August 2023.
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. Roosevelt County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.