Chouteau County, MT
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Chouteau County has experienced 10 federally declared disasters since 1986, most recently Severe Winter Storm And Flooding in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Chouteau County's highest-rated hazards are avalanche, cold wave, and wildfire, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 25 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is relatively low (26th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Chouteau County has been designated in 10 declarations since 1986, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (4), biological (2), flood (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2000 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 1996 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Ice Jams |
| 1986 | Flood | Heavy Rains, Landslides & 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 | 72.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 50.4 | 4 | 0 | $194K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 27.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 16.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 11.9 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 8.9 | 20 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 9.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 70.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 10.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 81.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 43.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 49.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 46.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Relatively Moderate | 82.5 | — | — | — |
| 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
Chouteau County ranks in the 26th 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 | 26th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 28th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 12th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 59th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 37th | Low |
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 | 53rd | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 58th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 64.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 25 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 13 in 2016–20 vs 12 in 2021–25 (-8% — relatively stable).
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 Chouteau County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Chouteau County, Montana are avalanche, cold wave, and wildfire. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Chouteau County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Chouteau County has received 10 federal disaster declarations since 1986, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (4 declarations).
Has Chouteau County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Chouteau County include Severe Winter Storm And Flooding (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1986.
How does Chouteau County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Cascade County, MT has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Judith Basin County, MT has the lowest (Very Low). Chouteau County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Chouteau County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Chouteau 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. Chouteau County's composite score of 40 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 40% of US counties.