Meagher County, MT
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Meagher County has experienced 10 federally declared disasters since 1975, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Meagher County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, wildfire, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is relatively low (2nd 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. Meagher County has been designated in 10 declarations since 1975, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (3), biological (2), fire (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 3b Fire Complex |
| 1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms,Ice Jams, Snow Melt, Flooding |
| 1996 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Ice Jams |
| 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 | 68.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 9.7 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 30.6 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 3.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 5.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 13.4 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 3.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 45.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 2.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 37 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 19.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 20.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 91.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 23.2 | — | — | — |
| 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
Meagher County ranks in the 2nd 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 | 2nd | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 11th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 4th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 19th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 3rd | Very 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 | 68th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 75th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 72.8% | — |
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 Meagher County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Meagher County, Montana are landslide, wildfire, and winter weather. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Meagher County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Meagher County has received 10 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (3 declarations).
Has Meagher County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Meagher County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Meagher 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 Wheatland County, MT has the lowest (Very Low). Meagher County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Meagher County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Meagher 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. Meagher County's composite score of 3 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 3% of US counties.