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Bannock County, Idaho

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
7th of 44highest risk in Idaho
$31Mexpected losses a year
3federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Bannock County, Idaho has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 67% of US counties. It ranks 7th of 44 counties in Idaho. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $31 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $360 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (72 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $115,000 on 40 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Bannock County

Wildfire

Moderate
$8.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 75 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$8.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Cold wave

Moderate
$7.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
WildfireModerate96.9
$9M
Inland floodingLow51.9
$8M
Cold waveModerate88.6
$8M
EarthquakeLow82.8
$3M
Heat waveModerate79.0
$2M
Winter weatherHigh96.1
$997K
LightningModerate80.0
$870K
HailLow40.3
$217K
TornadoVery Low15.1
$177K
Strong windVery Low12.9
$123K
Ice stormVery Low20.3
$20K
LandslideVery Low58.4
$3K
DroughtVery Low16.2
$1K
Volcanic activityVery Low68.1
$99
AvalancheVery Low23.0
$64

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very low and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Bannock County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood1
Fire1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 13, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Sep 1, 2000WildfiresMajor disaster
Dec 31, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

Idaho also had 16 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 300 storm reports in Bannock County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 4 injuries and about $9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on August 18, 1983.

6tornadoes
80hail reports, largest 2 inches
114damaging thunderstorm winds
63floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 18, 1983F1–0 / 0
Feb 14, 2000F0Chubbuck0 / 0
Jun 15, 1988F0–0 / 0
Aug 17, 2007EF0Inkom0 / 0
Mar 28, 1994F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 1, 2014Heavy RainDowney$2M
Aug 12, 1997HailPocatello$1M
Jun 17, 1997LightningPocatello$1M
Jun 26, 2009Flash FloodPocatello$700K
Sep 3, 2013Flash FloodChubbuck$700K
Jul 18, 2004Flash FloodPocatello$535K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 28, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Bannock County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (72 policies)
9.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$115,008paid on 40 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $48,027 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Bannock County

$300,700median home value (Idaho $418,600, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Idaho 1991, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.3%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 36,168 housing units.

Compare in Idaho

All 44 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Ada CountyModerateInland flooding
Canyon CountyLowInland flooding
Kootenai CountyLowInland flooding
Bonneville CountyModerateInland flooding
Twin Falls CountyLowInland flooding
Bannock CountyLowWildfire
Madison CountyLowInland flooding
Bingham CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Bingham CountyLow5
Franklin CountyVery Low2
Power CountyVery Low3
Caribou CountyVery Low3
Oneida CountyVery Low1

Cities in Bannock County

Common questions about Bannock County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Bannock County?

Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Bannock County, about $8.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $8.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Bannock County had?

Bannock County has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina in September 2005.

Is Bannock County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 7th highest of 44 in Idaho. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Bannock County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Bannock County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Bannock County had?

NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Bannock County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on August 18, 1983. The weather service has also logged 80 hail reports and 63 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.