Madison County, MT
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Madison County has experienced 7 federally declared disasters since 1997, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Madison County's highest-rated hazards are avalanche, landslide, and wildfire, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is relatively low (10th 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. Madison County has been designated in 7 declarations since 1997, covering 4 disaster types including biological (2), fire (2), severe storm (2).
| 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 |
| 2000 | Fire | Mt - Central Zone 3c Fire Complex |
| 1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms,Ice Jams, Snow Melt, 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 | 87.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 29.8 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 79.9 | 45 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 5.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 4.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 24.4 | 8 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 5.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 57.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 7.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 53.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 35.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 29.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 95.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very High | 97.4 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 14 | — | — | — |
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
Madison County ranks in the 10th percentile (Very 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 | 10th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 15th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 3rd | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 22nd | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 36th | 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 | 72nd | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 77th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 84.5% | — |
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 Madison County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Madison County, Montana are avalanche, landslide, and wildfire. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Madison County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Madison County has received 7 federal disaster declarations since 1997, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Madison County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Madison County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Madison County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Gallatin County, MT has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Broadwater County, MT has the lowest (Very Low). Madison County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Madison County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Madison 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. Madison County's composite score of 41 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 41% of US counties.