Enter any address in Roosevelt County, Montana to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow along the Milk River and Poplar River, driven by snowmelt, is the dominant flood character in Roosevelt County. Recent events include flooding in March 2020 when snowmelt from neighboring counties caused the Milk River and Poplar River to exceed flood stage. In April 2023, rapidly melting snow from an above-normal snowpack led to flooding along numerous streams within the Milk River Watershed.
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms has also occurred, as seen in June 2021. These events highlight the varied causes of flooding in the county.
Residents with properties located in Zone A, which has experienced claims with significant water depth and payouts, should pay the most attention to flood risk. Properties in Zone UNKNOWN and Zone X have also seen claims, indicating potential risk across different areas.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
10 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Roosevelt County, Montana has recorded 52 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 25 flash floods and 27 river or area floods. The county has received 8 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1997–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Flooding | Flood | Apr 10, 2023 |
| Straight-line Winds | Other | Jun 10, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 4, 2011 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Storm | Oct 31, 2000 |
| Severe Storms,ice Jams, Snow Melt, Flooding | Severe Storm | Mar 1, 1997 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Apr 11, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 8, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 10, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 29, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 22, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 1, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 18, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 16, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2012 | 0.00K |
Flood — Apr 11, 2023
Rapidly melting snow from an above normal snowpack caused flooding along numerous streams and at many river forecast points in the Milk River Watershed.
Flash Flood — Jun 8, 2021
A quick-moving low pressure disturbance from the southwest interacted with a warm front and a very unstable atmosphere to develop and sustain multiple long-track severe thunderstorms and some flash flooding.
Flood — Mar 10, 2020
Recent snowmelt from northern Phillips County and central and northern Valley County contributed to many area creeks and streams running freely and feeding into the main-stem Milk River and Poplar River. Consequently, the lower Milk River through eastern Valley County and the Poplar River in western Roosevelt County both rose up to, and exceeded flood stage in the second week of March.
Flood — Mar 29, 2019
The recent spring season thaw allowed ice along the Missouri River to break up. An ice jam which formed between Wolf Point and Poplar briefly rose the river level above flood stage near Wolf Point.
Flood — Mar 22, 2019
Spring season snow melt combined with additional rainfall and ice jams along area rivers, to rise the level of many creeks and rivers above flood stage across northeast Montana through the last several days of March.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Roosevelt County, Montana:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Roosevelt County, Montana that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.