9 Common Natural Disasters That Make Montana Vulnerable

What Natural Disasters Occur Most Often In Montana?

From Crisis Equipped, from 1953 to 2019 "Montana declared 72 major disasters".

What are the 9 kinds of natural disasters we live through the most in the Treasure State? No, it's not the influx of California license plates. No, it's not even the price of homes.

• #9: Power Outages

Harsh weather conditions can often result in Power Outages. Constellation reports that 83% of all power outages are weather related. Energy.gov states: "the average annual number of weather-related power outages has increased by almost 80% since 2011".

These Are The Most Dangerous Jobs In The Treasure State

• #8: Tornadoes

Tornadoes don't happen a lot in Montana, but they do happen. Our deadliest Montana tornado was in 2010, hitting the Metra in Billings and killing 2 people, according to Ground Zero Shelters

• #7 Landslides

Landslides aren't always mud sliding down a hill. Montana is home to several landslides every year. USGS explains that "Landslides can be initiated in slopes already on the verge of movement by rainfall, snowmelt, changes in water level, stream erosion, changes in ground water, earthquakes, volcanic activity, disturbance by human activities, or any combination of these factors".

• #6 Earthquakes

Anyone that's seen Earthquake Lake knows Montana has earthquakes. Gallatin County Emergency Management reports that Montana sees 7 to 10 earthquakes every day.

• #5 Extreme Heat and Extreme Drought

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Crisis Equipped reports that Montana usually has around 5 days a year where the temperatures hit dangerous heat levels. They also report that Montana's longest drought was from May 2000 to March 2006.

• #4 Severe Storms 

I don't think this is news to anyone who lives in Montana. A Thunderstorm can have gruesome ramifications; everything from farms being hailed out to property damage and power outages.

• #3 Winter Storms

This is what everyone in the world thinks we suffer the most, and I think that's fine. It can get pretty snowy and pretty cold in Montana, especially in January.  And that's just how I think we should keep it until we're not the cool place to be anymore.

• #2 Floods

Montana.gov reports: "Floods are the second most common disaster threat in Montana. Flooding can occur as a result of heavy precipitation, ground saturation, overflowing rivers, ice and debris jams, rapid snowmelt, and dry wash."

Read More: This Is How Fast A Flood Can Happen In Montana

• #1 Wildfires

Again, another one that comes as no surprise to people who actually live in Montana.  According to Crisis Equipped, "Montana ranks top 4 in the US when it comes to the number of fires and in the top 6 when it comes to the number of acres burned."

I guess that's why it's always such a kick in the teeth when our fires aren't covered nationally.