Lake County
Montana — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 68th
Lake County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 67.7, 68th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $23M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | High | 43.84 / yr | $532K |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $7M |
| Avalanche | High | 0.23 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Medium | 1.40 / yr | $53K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 4.49 / yr | $5M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.10 / yr | $220K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.43 / yr | $7M |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 1.44 / yr | $184K |
| Lightning | Low | 20.53 / yr | $125K |
| Drought | Very Low | 24.23 / yr | $8K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.24 / yr | $75K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.39 / yr | $31K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $7K |
| 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 Lake County?
Lake County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 67.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 68th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Lake County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (High, $532K EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $2M EAL), Earthquake (Medium, $7M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Lake County compare to other Montana counties?
Lake County ranks #8 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. Lake County's $23M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.