Converse County, WY
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Converse County has experienced 5 federally declared disasters since 1978, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Converse County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, winter weather, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 42% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (28th 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. Converse County has been designated in 5 declarations since 1978, covering 3 disaster types including biological (2), fire (2), flood (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2012 | Fire | Arapahoe Fire |
| 2002 | Fire | Wy-Hensel Fire-06/07/02 |
| 1978 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding & Mudslides |
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 Moderate | 91.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 40.4 | 2 | 0 | $10K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 55.3 | 185 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 24.2 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 39.7 | 60 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 84.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 17.2 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 72.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 37.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 23.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 60.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 8.9 | — | — | — |
| 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
Converse County ranks in the 28th 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 | 28th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 28th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 32nd | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 35th | Low |
| 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 | 85th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 87th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 57.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 68 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 43 in 2016–20 vs 25 in 2021–25 (-42% — frequency decreasing).
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 Converse County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Converse County, Wyoming are wildfire, winter weather, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Converse County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Converse County has received 5 federal disaster declarations since 1978, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Converse County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Converse County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Converse County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Natrona County, WY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Niobrara County, WY has the lowest (Very Low). Converse County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Converse County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Converse 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. Converse County's composite score of 31 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 31% of US counties.