Wyoming has about ~4,000 active NFIP flood insurance policies, with an average annual premium of $490/yr under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 methodology. The biggest flood risk areas in the state are North Platte River valley (Casper), Shoshone River (Cody), Big Horn River, Yellowstone-draining streams. Private flood market availability: Limited.
NFIP Policies in Force
~4,000
Estimate, federal flood program
Avg NFIP Premium
$490/yr
Risk Rating 2.0 average
Private Flood Market
Limited
Carrier availability for higher limits
| Topic | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Top risk areas | North Platte River valley (Casper), Shoshone River (Cody), Big Horn River, Yellowstone-draining streams | Mandatory purchase in SFHA + federal mortgage |
| Recent major flood | 2022 Yellowstone catastrophic flooding (June 2022) | Drives claim data and premium revisions |
| Average NFIP premium | $490/yr | Risk Rating 2.0 phased increases (18%/yr cap) |
| CBRS coastal restrictions | No major CBRS zones | Mostly inland flood exposure |
NFIP statistics from FEMA's national insurance data; premium averages reflect Risk Rating 2.0 phase-in. Private flood market sized from state department of insurance filings. Always verify your specific property's flood zone at floodsmart.gov.
Wyoming has the smallest population and one of the lowest NFIP policy counts of any state, but it is not without significant flood exposure. The June 2022 Yellowstone flooding event — which simultaneously devastated communities in Wyoming and Montana — was one of the most dramatic western flood events of the decade. Unprecedented rainfall on heavy snowpack sent walls of water down the Yellowstone, Lamar, and other draining rivers, destroying the highway and bridge infrastructure accessing Yellowstone National Park from the north and causing major damage in Gardiner, Montana (just north of the Wyoming border) and to park infrastructure within Wyoming. The Shoshone River through Cody, the North Platte River through Casper, and the Big Horn River through Thermopolis and Worland are Wyoming's primary flood-risk waterways. Spring snowmelt flooding on an annual cycle is the state's primary flood season.
Wyoming has approximately 4,000 NFIP policies — one of the lowest absolute counts nationally — reflecting the state's tiny population of under 600,000, large rural character, and predominantly agricultural or ranching land use along most floodplains. Risk Rating 2.0 had essentially no impact on Wyoming's minimal policy base. The statewide average of approximately $490 per year is among the lowest nationally. Private flood insurance has no commercial presence in Wyoming. The 2022 Yellowstone event raised some public awareness of Wyoming's flood exposure, but most at-risk properties remain uninsured.
Homeowners and renters policies categorically exclude flood damage. You must purchase a separate flood policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private flood insurer. Note: there's a standard 30-day waiting period from purchase to coverage, so don't wait until a storm is forecast.
NFIP residential policies cap building coverage at $250,000 and contents at $100,000. Homes worth more than these limits should consider 'excess flood' coverage through a private insurer or a fully-private flood policy with higher limits.
Major flood event affecting Wyoming: 2022 Yellowstone catastrophic flooding (June 2022). Repeated severe events tend to push up local NFIP premiums and shift more properties into mandatory-purchase Special Flood Hazard Areas.
💡 Wyoming Pro Tip
Flood insurance is required for federally backed mortgage holders in Wyoming SFHAs — primarily along the North Platte River in Casper and Natrona County, the Shoshone River through Cody and Park County, the Big Horn River through Thermopolis and Worland, and along the Green River through Sweetwater County. Wyoming's floodplains are largely rural and agricultural, but the communities that do sit in or adjacent to flood zones face real exposure from spring snowmelt events. The 2022 Yellowstone event is a reminder that Wyoming's mountain-fed rivers can produce sudden, catastrophic flooding.
Wyoming has one of the lowest average NFIP premiums at approximately $490 per year. North Platte River floodplain properties in Casper typically pay $500–$1,000. Shoshone River properties in Cody pay $500–$1,000. Big Horn River corridor properties in Thermopolis pay $450–$950. Zone X properties in lower-risk areas can access Preferred Risk Policies at $300–$470. Private flood insurance is not available in Wyoming.
NFIP flood insurance in Wyoming covers spring snowmelt-driven riverine flooding from the North Platte, Shoshone, Big Horn, Green, and other rivers, flash flooding from intense summer convective storms (particularly in the Big Horn Basin and eastern foothills), glacial and snowfield-driven flood surges in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem drainage areas, and mudflow caused by flooding. It does not cover dam failures at Boysen or other Wyoming dams as direct causes — though downstream surface flooding is covered — or landslides, debris flows, or rockfalls triggered by saturated mountain terrain without a general flood condition. Wyoming properties near Yellowstone's volcanic hydrothermal system should consult with brokers about coverage for unusual hydrothermal flood events, which may have NFIP definition ambiguity.
Data sourced from FEMA NFIP statistics and state Department of Insurance filings for Wyoming, April 2026.
Michael Torres
Editorial Lead, Catastrophe & Commercial Property
This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.
Reviewed April 2026
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