Photo: WikiCapa (Uploads) · Public domainFEMA puts Butte-Silver Bow’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 81% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Butte-Silver Bow gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, #8 of 42 in Montana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (48%), then earthquakes (41%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Butte-Silver Bow faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Earthquakes
Wildfire
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Butte-Silver Bow’s grade
River and rain flooding is 48% of the building damage FEMA expects in Butte-Silver Bow, and Butte-Silver Bow’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 90% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 8%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #8 of 42 in Montana; lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Butte-Silver Bow’s residents live in 9 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Montana town has lower expected damage than 54% of U.S. towns; within the state, Butte-Silver Bow has less expected damage per building than 83% of Montana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $14.4M a year in losses across Butte-Silver Bow: $6.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Butte-Silver Bow and its neighbors
Butte-Silver Bow is 2nd of the 2 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anaconda-Deer Lodge County | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Butte-Silver Bow | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Dewey | — | 26 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Wise River | — | 30 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Butte-Silver Bow faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Butte-Silver Bow
Is Butte-Silver Bow at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Butte-Silver Bow has lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #8 of 42 in Montana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (48%) and earthquakes (41%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Butte-Silver Bow in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map.
How much is flood insurance in Butte-Silver Bow?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Butte-Silver Bow’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Butte-Silver Bow at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (48%), and Butte-Silver Bow’s rate for it is lower than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Butte-Silver Bow.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Butte-Silver Bow’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.