Pondera County
Montana — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 25th
Pondera County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 24.6, 25th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | Medium | 8.97 / yr | $3M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $112K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 33.74 / yr | $70K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $188K |
| Drought | Low | 64.85 / yr | $62K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.29 / yr | $2M |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $55 |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.46 / yr | $66 |
| Lightning | Very Low | 18.56 / yr | $36K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.52 / yr | $81K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.69 / yr | $28K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.74 / yr | $19K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $10K |
| 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 Pondera County?
Pondera County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 24.6 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 25th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Pondera County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (Medium, $3M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $112K EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $70K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Pondera County compare to other Montana counties?
Pondera County ranks #29 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. Pondera County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.