FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in North Browning as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, North Browning gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #23 of 42 in Montana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then earthquakes (10%). 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 North Browning 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 North Browning’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in North Browning, and North Browning’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 6%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #23 of 42 in Montana; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
North Browning’s residents live in 2 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, North Browning has more expected damage per building than 54% of Montana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across North Browning: $414K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does North Browning flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in North Browning. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
North Browning isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Glacier County.The storms North Browning remembers
None of the 9 disasters declared for Glacier County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching North Browning itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Glacier County has had 9 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
North Browning and its neighbors
North Browning 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Browning | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | — |
| North Browning | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Browning | — | 943 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 North Browning 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 North Browning
Is North Browning at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, North Browning has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #23 of 42 in Montana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is North Browning 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 Glacier County, 0.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in North Browning?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for North Browning’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is North Browning at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and North Browning’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in North Browning.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where North Browning’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.