Natural hazards · Shelby

Shelby, MT natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Shelby comes from cold waves, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. 2 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Shelby?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Shelby to be higher than in 0% of U.S. communities, mostly from cold waves.

Cold waves89%Everything else11%

By hazard

What Shelby faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Cold waves

89% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Recorded about 11 times a year in the area

Lower here

Inland floodingTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesLandslidesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Shelby flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Shelby.

Disasters that hit Shelby

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Shelby itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Shelby.

Brought FEMA money into ShelbyDeclared for Toole County only

2011

Severe Storms and Flooding

9 households applied for aid $8K aid approved $266K to the City of Shelby for repairs

2002

Severe Storms and Flooding

$43K to the City of Shelby for repairs

Toole County has had 10 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Shelby covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Shelby’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Shelby. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Shelby total about $270K a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.