Cascade County, MT
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Cascade County has experienced 7 federally declared disasters since 1975, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Cascade County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, cold wave, and wildfire, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 20% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Cascade County has been designated in 7 declarations since 1975, covering 5 disaster types including biological (2), flood (2), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2000 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 1981 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1975 | Flood | Rains, Showmelt, Storms & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | 84.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 83.4 | 20 | 2 | $110K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 71.8 | 4 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 45.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 20.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 53.4 | 68 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 60.9 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 99.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 23.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 98 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 72.9 | 1 | 0 | $10K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 33.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 71.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Relatively Moderate | 80.3 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Cascade County ranks in the 44th percentile (Low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 44th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 34th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 34th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 46th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 68th | Moderate |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 64th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 70th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 31.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 90 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 41 in 2016–20 vs 49 in 2021–25 (+20% — frequency increasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Cascade County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Cascade County, Montana are winter weather, cold wave, and wildfire. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Cascade County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Cascade County has received 7 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Cascade County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Cascade County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Cascade County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Lewis and Clark County, MT has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Meagher County, MT has the lowest (Very Low). Cascade County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Cascade County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Cascade County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Cascade County's composite score of 83 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 83% of US counties.