W. C. Child Ranch · Photo: Robstutz · CC BY-SA 3.0Montana City’s building-damage rate from wildfire is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Montana City gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #29 of 42 in Montana State. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (55%), then wildfire (36%). 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 Montana City 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
Wildfire
Earthquakes
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 Montana City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 55% of the building damage FEMA expects in Montana City, and Montana City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 36%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #29 of 42 in Montana State; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Montana City’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Montana State town has lower expected damage than 54% of U.S. towns; within the state, Montana City has more expected damage per building than 68% of Montana State towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Montana City: $953K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Montana City flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Montana City. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Montana City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Jefferson County.The storms Montana City remembers
None of the 6 disasters declared for Jefferson County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Montana City itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Jefferson County has had 6 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Jefferson County, 2000–2012.
Montana City and its neighbors
Montana City has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana City | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Clancy | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| South Hills | — | 620 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 Montana City 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.
- 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Montana City
Is Montana City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Montana City has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #29 of 42 in Montana State. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (55%) and wildfire (36%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Montana City 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. In Jefferson County, 0.3% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Montana City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Montana City’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Montana City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (55%), and Montana City’s rate for it is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Montana City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Montana City’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.