Montana natural disasters & FEMA declarations
MT · 10th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Montana has had 112 federally declared disasters since 1953, the 10th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Fire (67 declarations, about 60% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Winter Storm And Straight-line Winds" (Winter Storm), on May 29, 2026. The largest recorded earthquake in or near Montana was magnitude 7.2.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Montana, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Fire | 67 | 60% |
| Flood | 19 | 17% |
| Severe Storm | 14 | 13% |
| Straight-Line Winds | 3 | 3% |
| Biological | 3 | 3% |
| Winter Storm | 1 | 1% |
| Other | 1 | 1% |
| Tornado | 1 | 1% |
| Hurricane | 1 | 1% |
| Drought | 1 | 1% |
| Snowstorm | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 64 |
| Major Disaster (DR) | 43 |
| Emergency (EM) | 5 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Montana's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 1 |
| 1960s | 2 |
| 1970s | 9 |
| 1980s | 6 |
| 1990s | 7 |
| 2000s | 29 |
| 2010s | 29 |
| 2020s | 29 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2026 | Severe Winter Storm And Straight-line Winds | Winter Storm | DR-4914-MT |
| May 29, 2026 | Severe Winter Storm And Straight-line Winds | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4915-MT |
| Apr 7, 2026 | Severe Winter Storm And Straight-line Winds | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4902-MT |
| Apr 7, 2026 | Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | DR-4901-MT |
| Dec 19, 2025 | Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | EM-3630-MT |
| Sep 11, 2025 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | DR-4887-MT |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Montana
The strongest magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes attributed to Montana in the USGS catalog (1900–present). Locations are matched from the USGS event description.
| Magnitude | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| M7.2 | Aug 18, 1959 | The 1959 Hebgen Lake, Montana Earthquake |
Source: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Data as of June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Montana had?
Montana has had 112 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1953, the 10th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Montana?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Montana is "Fire", with 67 declarations — about 60% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Montana?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Montana in this snapshot was "Severe Winter Storm And Straight-line Winds" (Winter Storm), declared May 29, 2026.
What is the biggest earthquake recorded in Montana?
The largest earthquake in or near Montana in the USGS magnitude-6.0+ catalog is a magnitude 7.2 event on Aug 18, 1959 (The 1959 Hebgen Lake, Montana Earthquake).
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18