Photo: Jonathan Green · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Thermopolis than in 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Thermopolis gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). 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 Thermopolis 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 Thermopolis’ grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Thermopolis, and Thermopolis’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 8% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
D #28 of 28 in Wyoming; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Thermopolis’ 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, Thermopolis has more expected damage per building than 100% of Wyoming towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Thermopolis: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Thermopolis flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Thermopolis. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Thermopolis isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hot Springs County.The storms Thermopolis remembers
None of the 1 disasters declared for Hot Springs County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Thermopolis itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Hot Springs County has had 1 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Hot Springs County, 2025–2025.
Thermopolis and its neighbors
Thermopolis has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thermopolis | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| East Thermopolis | — | 192 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 Thermopolis 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 Thermopolis
Is Thermopolis at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Thermopolis has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and earthquakes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Thermopolis 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 Hot Springs County, 0.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Thermopolis?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Thermopolis’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Thermopolis at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Thermopolis’ rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Thermopolis.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Thermopolis’ 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.