9 flood insurance claims·$8,284 paid·2 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Deer Lodge County, Montana. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Floods from weather events dominate the recorded flood history in Deer Lodge County, accounting for 16 out of 18 total events over the last 30 years alongside two flash flood events. Historical impacts stem from seasonal snowmelt and severe summer thunderstorms. For instance, high temperatures and deep snowpack caused snowmelt that led to small streams overflowing in the Deer Lodge area in March 2003, resulting in flooded basements, sandbagging, and two evacuations. Later, a strong thunderstorm produced heavy rain and flash flooding just west of Anaconda in July 2002, sending two feet of water, mud, and debris through the 1880s Ranch, flooding five buildings, and washing away part of a garage foundation.
National Flood Insurance Program claims reflect losses across multiple zones, including properties in Zone X_UNSHADED with an average payout of $4,636 and an average recorded water depth of 1 inch, Zone X_SHADED with an average payout of $3,234 and 0 inches of recorded water depth, and Zone X with an average payout of $413 and 0 inches of recorded water depth. Properties in Zone A and Zone UNKNOWN recorded claims with an average payout of $0 and 0 inches of recorded water depth. Residents near rivers, small streams, and areas prone to mountain snowmelt or intense summer convective storms should pay the most attention to these risks.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 1 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 1984, with 3 claims and $0 paid.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
2 NOAA storm reports from Deer Lodge County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Montana flood stories →
10 federal disaster declarations since 1974, 2 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Apr 4, 2011 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Southwestern Zone Two Fire Complex | Aug 5, 2000 |
| Wildfires | Jul 13, 2000 |
| Severe Storms,ice Jams, Snow Melt, Flooding | Mar 1, 1997 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Ice Jams | Feb 4, 1996 |
| Heavy Rains, Landslides & Flooding | Feb 24, 1986 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding & Landslides | Jan 29, 1974 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
18 since 1996: 2 flash floods and 16 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2017 | $685,000 |
| Flood | Jun 23, 2011 | — |
| Flood | May 31, 2009 | $10,000 |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2003 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 19, 2002 | — |
| Flood | Jun 14, 1997 | — |
| Flood | May 1, 1997 | $69,000 |
| Flood | Jan 25, 1996 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Jul 15, 2017. An upper level wave tracked up from the Clearwater Mountains of Idaho towards the Seeley Lake area and initiated thunderstorms thanks to warmer than normal temperatures in the region. As these storms tracked over the Bitterroot and Clark Fork Valleys, they produced damaging winds and power outages. Also, a thunderstorm produced torrential rain and subsequent flash-flooding to Anaconda in southwestern Montana.
Flood · May 31, 2009. Abnormally warm temperatures caused increased snow melt over much of western Montana, with many rivers and small streams running at or slightly above normal. Some minor damage was reported along Fifer Creek in southwest Montana.
Flood · Mar 13, 2003. Deep snow pack from the previous weeks winter storms and a day of high temperatures in the 60s, lead to extensive snow melt and several small streams overflowing their banks in the Deer Lodge area. Two homes were damaged by flood waters getting into basements. City crews sandbagged to protect homes and two residents were evacuated during the flood event.
Flash Flood · Jul 19, 2002. A strong thunderstorm dumped heavy rain which flooded an area just west of Anaconda. Reports from media and law enforcement of flash flooding, which caused water two feet deep to flood several buildings around the 1880s Ranch on North Cable Road. Mud and tree branches and stumps were reported flowing through the ranch, with water flooding North Cable Road. Five buildings were flooded with six to eight inches of mu…
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Deer Lodge County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.