Ravalli County

Montana — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Low

Composite Risk Score

78.5

National percentile: 78th

Ravalli County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 78.5, 78th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $37M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $37M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Medium Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Low Capacity to recover
Population 44K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Wildfire
High $21M/yr
Landslide
Medium $92K/yr
Cold Wave
Medium $6M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Wildfire High 0.01 / yr $21M
Landslide Medium 1.55 / yr $92K
Cold Wave Medium 2.18 / yr $6M
Winter Weather High 53.01 / yr $317K
Avalanche High 0.17 / yr $1M
Ice Storm Medium 0.12 / yr $304K
Earthquake Low 0.00 / yr $711K
Lightning Medium 26.85 / yr $394K
Riverine Flood Low 0.79 / yr $7M
Heat Wave Low 0.74 / yr $307K
Hail Very Low 0.36 / yr $106K
Drought Very Low 34.05 / yr $3K
Strong Wind Very Low 0.20 / yr $96K
Tornado Very Low 0.03 / yr $51K
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 Ravalli County?

Ravalli County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 78.5 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 78th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Ravalli County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (High, $21M EAL), Landslide (Medium, $92K EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $6M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Ravalli County compare to other Montana counties?

Ravalli County ranks #5 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. Ravalli County's $37M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.