Broadwater County
Montana — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 18th
Broadwater County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 17.7, 18th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and avalanche exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $6M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 0.72 / yr | $47K |
| Avalanche | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $913K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.02 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Medium | 33.11 / yr | $491K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $192K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 30.71 / yr | $106K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 4.00 / yr | $990K |
| Drought | Very Low | 88.75 / yr | $24K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.18 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.76 / yr | $55K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.48 / yr | $13K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $2K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $19K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.51 / yr | $24K |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Broadwater County?
Broadwater County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 17.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 18th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Broadwater County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $47K EAL), Avalanche (Medium, $913K EAL), Earthquake (Low, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Broadwater County compare to other Montana counties?
Broadwater County ranks #32 of 56 Montana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very 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. Broadwater County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.