Ohio Oil Company Building · Photo: Andrew Farkas · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Casper 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, Casper gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #21 of 28 in Wyoming. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 20 claims here since 1978.
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 Casper 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 Casper’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Casper, and Casper’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 6%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #21 of 28 in Wyoming; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Casper’s residents live in 19 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Wyoming town has lower expected damage than 55% of U.S. towns; within the state, Casper has more expected damage per building than 74% of Wyoming towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $21.0M a year in losses across Casper: $14.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Casper flood? Sometimes: 20 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Casper, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Casper isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Natrona County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Casper
Disasters that paid out in Casper itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Casper), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Flooding$298K to the City of Casper for repairs
Natrona County has had 2 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods.
Also 4 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Natrona County, 2000–2015.
Old photos of Casper after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Casper archive →Casper and its neighbors
Casper is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Casper | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Mills | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Red Butte | — | 580 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Hartrandt | — | 975 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 Casper 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 Casper
Is Casper at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Casper has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #21 of 28 in Wyoming. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and earthquakes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Casper flood?
Flood insurance has paid 20 claims in Casper since 1978, $209K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Casper 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 Natrona County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Casper?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Casper’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Casper?
By FEMA money that reached Casper, Flooding (2023): $298K to the City of Casper for repairs.
Is Casper at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Casper’s rate for it is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Casper.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Casper’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.