Natural Disaster Risk in Wamsutter

Natural Hazard Profile: Wamsutter, Wyoming

Wamsutter is a small unincorporated community in Sweetwater County, in the Great Plains. The area experiences high winds, cold winters, and significant snowfall at elevation, with blizzards and rapid weather changes shaping the pattern of natural hazards that residents encounter. Understanding the local risk profile is essential for anyone living in, moving to, or owning property in Wamsutter.

According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Wamsutter carries an overall risk score of 5.0/10, placing it in the moderate category. Slope instability and debris flows are the primary natural hazard, driven by a combination of local geology, precipitation intensity, and terrain that creates susceptibility to failure. The area also faces notable exposure to winter and avalanche.

Wamsutter's risk score, near the 5.3/10 state average and near the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Sweetwater County, the highest-scoring are landslide, winter, and avalanche. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

With a moderate risk rating, Wamsutter residents are well-served by maintaining standard preparedness practices — an emergency supply kit, awareness of local hazard seasonality, and insurance that covers the top local risks. Periodic review of coverage for landslide is recommended.