Photo: Montanabw · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Powell than in 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Powell gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #3 of 28 in Wyoming. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then earthquakes (22%). 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 Powell 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
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 Powell’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Powell, and Powell’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 22% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
A #3 of 28 in Wyoming; lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Powell’s residents live in 2 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, Powell has less expected damage per building than 93% of Wyoming towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Powell: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Powell flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Powell. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Powell isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Park County.The storms Powell remembers
None of the 2 disasters declared for Park County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Powell itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Park County has had 2 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods.
Get ready for what Powell 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.
- 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 Powell
Is Powell at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Powell has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #3 of 28 in Wyoming. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and earthquakes (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Powell 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 Park County, 3% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Powell?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Powell’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Powell at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Powell’s rate for it is lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Powell.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Powell’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.