Treasure County, Montana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MT
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 1th
Treasure County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 0.5, 1th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $1M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Treasure County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 0.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 1st national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Treasure County's expected losses come from wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $146K in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Very Low risk — $21K in expected annual loss and about 69.56 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Very Low risk — $254K in expected annual loss and about 3.85 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $1M in expected annual loss for a population of 754.
Beyond physical exposure, Treasure County has a very low 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). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The federal record bears this out: Treasure County has received 11 federal disaster declarations since 1978, including 5 for flood events and 2 for biological events. The most recent was Flooding (flood), declared in October 2023.
Among 56 Montana counties, Treasure County ranks #56 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Low | 0.01 / yr | $146K |
| Drought | Very Low | 69.56 / yr | $21K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 3.85 / yr | $254K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.61 / yr | $91 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 16.38 / yr | $13K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.59 / yr | $30K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.26 / yr | $10K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 29.49 / yr | $21K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $4K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.87 / yr | $18K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.39 / yr | $598K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $4K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $388 |
| 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
Treasure County has received 11 federal disaster declarations since 1978, most recently Flooding in October 2023. Most frequent causes: Flood (5), Biological (2), Severe Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| October 2023 | Flood | Flooding |
| June 2022 | Flood | Severe Storm and Flooding |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| May 2019 | Flood | Flooding |
| October 2018 | Flood | Flooding |
| June 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| August 2000 | Fire | Wildfires |
| July 1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms,Ice Jams, Snow Melt, Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 11 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Treasure County?
Treasure County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 0.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 1th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Treasure County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Low, $146K EAL), Drought (Very Low, $21K EAL), Cold Wave (Very Low, $254K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Treasure County compare to other Montana counties?
Treasure County ranks #56 of 56 Montana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Treasure County had?
FEMA records 11 federal disaster declarations for Treasure County since 1978, most often 5 for flood events and 2 for biological events. The most recent was Flooding, declared in October 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. Treasure County's $1M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.