Counties / Montana / Granite County, MT
Home resilience & retrofit ROI in Granite County, MT
FEMA rates this county's overall natural-hazard risk Very Low (9/100). For a typical home here, that translates into a resilience score of 58/100 — and a specific, ranked list of upgrades that pay for themselves.
01 The hazards that drive losses here
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating | Est. annual loss, typical home* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverine Flooding | 11/100 | Very Low | ~$359/yr |
| Wildfire | 89/100 | Relatively Low | ~$268/yr |
| Earthquake | 38/100 | Very Low | ~$24/yr |
| Ice Storm | 29/100 | Relatively Low | ~$5/yr |
| Hail | 6/100 | Very Low | ~$3/yr |
| Strong Wind | 3/100 | Very Low | ~$2/yr |
*Building-loss rate for this county (FEMA NRI December 2025) applied to a $350,000 wood-frame home built in the 1990s. Your home will differ — run the simulator.
02 Retrofits with the best payback for a typical home
| Retrofit | Installed cost | Simple payback | Lifetime NPV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pipe insulation & freeze protection Insulating exposed runs and adding heat tape where needed — burst pipes are the #1 winter-storm claim. |
$300–$1,200 | 10.3 yrs | $244 |
| Defensible space & ember-resistant zone Clearing the 0–5 ft zone and managing vegetation to 30 ft — the highest-leverage, lowest-cost wildfire action. |
$500–$3,000 | 7.8 yrs | $71 |
| Ember-resistant vents & soffits Most homes ignite from embers entering attic and crawlspace vents, not the flame front. Mesh and baffle retrofits close that path. |
$1,000–$4,000 | 15.3 yrs | $48 |
03 Common questions
What natural hazards matter most in Granite County, MT?
Based on FEMA National Risk Index expected annual losses, the biggest drivers here are Riverine Flooding, Wildfire, Earthquake. The county's overall NRI risk rating is "Very Low".
Which home retrofit has the best payback in Granite County, MT?
For a typical $350,000 home, Pipe insulation & freeze protection ranks first — roughly $73/year in combined avoided losses, energy savings, and possible insurance credits, with a ~10.3-year simple payback. Run the simulator with your own home's details for a personalized ranking.
Where does this data come from?
Hazard scores and expected annual losses come from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI December 2025); electricity prices from the U.S. EIA; retrofit effectiveness and costs from FEMA, NIBS, IBHS and DOE literature. All figures are transparent estimates, not quotes or advice.
Estimates only — not financial, insurance, or engineering advice. Sources & formulas on the methodology page. FEMA NRI December 2025; social vulnerability 50/100; community resilience 30/100.