Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Sidney faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sidney gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #18 of 42 in Montana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1997.
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 Sidney 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
Tornadoes
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 Sidney’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sidney, and Sidney’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
B #18 of 42 in Montana; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Sidney’s residents live in 3 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, Sidney has less expected damage per building than 59% of Montana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.5M a year in losses across Sidney: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sidney flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1997
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sidney, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Sidney isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Richland County.The storms Sidney remembers
None of the 4 disasters declared for Richland County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Sidney itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19971 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms,ice Jams, Snow Melt, Flooding, declared for Richland County
Richland County has had 4 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.
Old photos of Sidney after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sidney archive →Get ready for what Sidney 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Sidney
Is Sidney at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sidney has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #18 of 42 in Montana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and tornadoes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Sidney flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Sidney since 1997, $2K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Sidney 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 Richland County, 5% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Sidney?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sidney’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Sidney at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Sidney’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sidney.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sidney’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.