Montana Flood Zones
Last updated: March 2026
Montana faces flooding from spring snowmelt in mountain river systems, rain-on-snow events, and ice jams. The Yellowstone, Missouri, Clark Fork, and Flathead rivers are the primary flood sources, and mountain valleys are vulnerable to rapid-onset flooding.
5 communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System, qualifying residents for flood insurance discounts of up to 20%.
Montana has recorded 2,216 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $19.0M in payouts. See how Montana compares in our nationwide NFIP claims data breakdown.
FEMA Region
Region 8
Also covers Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, +2 more
NFIP Policies
4,407
Avg. Premium
$885/yr
Montana Flood Risk Overview
County-level risk ratings from FEMA's National Risk Index across 56 Montana counties.
Inland Flood Risk
0 of 56 counties rated high or very high
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment.
Federal Flood Disaster History
Montana has received 19 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
Declarations by Decade
Recent Declarations
Showing 8 most recent of 19 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Montana properties have filed 2,216 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $19.0M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout in 2025 was $0.
Recent Years
Claims by Decade
Highest-Claim Years
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced March 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage in Montana
Only roughly 1 in 97 households in Montana carries NFIP flood insurance (1% of estimated households). 36 of 56 counties have elevated flood risk but low insurance coverage. With 1,043 recorded flood events and $86.6M in damage, many flood losses in this state are likely uninsured.
Penetration Rate
1%
roughly 1 in 97 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 2
2,216 claims over 45+ years across 4,407 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$8,563
Per claim, state-wide since 1978
Historically, Montana has averaged 1 claim for every 2 active policies (since 1978). This compares cumulative claims against today's policy count and does not predict future claim likelihood.
Coverage data: NFIP policies as of March 2026, claims since 1978 (March 2026), population from FEMA NRI.
Repetitive Loss Properties in Montana
Montana has 91 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 3 severe repetitive loss properties. 1 properties have received FEMA mitigation funding. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced March 2026.
Multiple Loss
91
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
3
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
1
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 76 of 91 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced March 2026.
Recorded Flood Events in Montana
NOAA has recorded 1,043 flood events in Montana since 1996, causing an estimated $86.6M in property and crop damage and 6 deaths.
Total Events
1,043
Total Damage
$86.6M
Fatalities
6
Events by Decade
Costliest Events
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced March 2026.
Flood Mitigation in Montana
FEMA has funded mitigation for 180 properties in Montana, investing $1.3M in flood risk reduction. Common mitigation actions include acquisition (buying and demolishing flood-prone structures), elevation (raising buildings above flood level), and safe rooms (wind/storm shelters for tornado and hurricane protection).
Properties by Action
Mitigation by Decade
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Mitigated Properties. Data sourced March 2026.
Flood Insurance Discounts in Montana
5 Montana communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), earning flood insurance premium discounts for residents in Special Flood Hazard Areas. CRS classes in Montana range from 6 to 8, with discounts from 10% to 20%.
Class 6 - 20% discount
Class 7 - 15% discount
Class 7 - 15% discount
Class 8 - 10% discount
Class 8 - 10% discount
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only. CRS classes and discounts are subject to change.
Montana Cities
Explore flood zone information for major cities in Montana.
Montana Flood Zone FAQ
How do I check if my Montana property is in a flood zone?
Enter your MT address in FludZone's free lookup tool. We query FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer in real-time to show your flood zone designation, whether flood insurance is required, and your property's risk level.
Do I need flood insurance in Montana?
If your Montana property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), meaning zones starting with A or V, and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not subject to the federal mandate but lenders may still require coverage, and it is often recommended given Montana's flood history.
What are the most common flood zones in Montana?
The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Montana are Zone AE, Zone A, Zone X. Each zone reflects a different level of flood risk, from high-risk areas where flood insurance is generally required for federally regulated or government-backed mortgages to lower-risk areas where coverage is optional but recommended.
Can I remove my Montana property from a flood zone?
Yes, if your Montana property's natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in the SFHA, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) through FEMA. For properties in Montana's AE and A zones, the LOMA process is relatively straightforward when the elevation data supports it. If your property was raised above the BFE with fill, the process is a LOMR-F. A successful LOMA generally removes the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement, but your lender may still choose to require coverage. You'll need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor.
Do any Montana communities offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes, 5 Montana communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for exceeding minimum flood mitigation standards. Residents in participating communities can receive NFIP premium discounts of up to 20% in the Special Flood Hazard Area. Properties outside the SFHA also benefit: CRS classes 1 through 6 receive a 10% discount, and classes 7 through 9 receive a 5% discount on NFIP premiums. Check your city's page on FludZone to see if your community participates.
How much does flood insurance cost in Montana?
The average NFIP flood insurance premium in Montana is $885 per year across 4,407 active policies. Premiums vary by zone: Zone AE policies average $862/yr. Under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0, your specific premium depends on property type, elevation relative to the Base Flood Elevation, and distance to water, not just your flood zone designation.
How many NFIP flood insurance claims has Montana had?
Montana has recorded 2,216 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $19.0M in payouts since 1978. The highest-claim year was 2011, with 460 claims and $4.2M in payouts. This history reflects cumulative flood damage to Montana properties across decades of storm and rainfall events.
How many Montana properties have flooded repeatedly?
Montana has 91 properties with multiple flood losses. Of these, 3 are classified as Severe Repetitive Loss, meaning they have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000 or more, or two or more claims where the total exceeds the building value. 1 of these properties have been mitigated.
What percentage of Montana homes have flood insurance?
Only roughly 1 in 97 households in Montana carries NFIP flood insurance (1% of estimated households). 36 counties in Montana have elevated flood risk but low insurance coverage, indicating a significant protection gap.
Understanding Flood Zones
Learn more about the FEMA flood zone designations common in Montana.
Insurance & Cost
Do I Need Flood Insurance?Flood Insurance CostsNFIP vs Private InsuranceRisk Rating 2.0Community Rating SystemBuying in a Flood ZoneFlood Zone DeterminationInsurance Waiting PeriodFlood vs Homeowners InsuranceInsurance Outside the SFHAZone X Flood InsuranceFlood Zones & Property ValueLook Up Any Montana Address
Enter a MT address to instantly check its FEMA flood zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Disclaimer: Flood risk data on this page is sourced from FEMA datasets including the National Risk Index, NFIP claims and policy records, disaster declarations, and the Community Rating System. These datasets were last extracted on March 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. This page is for informational purposes only and is not a certified flood zone determination. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.