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Benewah County, Idaho

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

Very Low overall risk
33rd of 44highest risk in Idaho
$6Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Benewah County, Idaho has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 80% of US counties. It ranks 33rd of 44 counties in Idaho. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $6.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $679 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Only 49 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $593,000 on 34 claims here.

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

Top risks in Benewah County

$5.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.
$409,987 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.
$230,440 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 520 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow46.9
$5M
Cold waveLow31.9
$410K
WildfireLow74.8
$230K
Heat waveVery Low27.0
$100K
LandslideModerate93.9
$91K
Strong windVery Low7.6
$49K
Ice stormLow40.4
$48K
EarthquakeVery Low26.4
$46K
Winter weatherLow37.2
$36K
TornadoVery Low5.1
$19K
HailVery Low6.0
$15K
LightningVery Low3.6
$11K
AvalancheVery Low48.2
$418
DroughtVery Low14.2
$300

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 relatively moderate and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood3
Fire1
Volcanic Eruption1
Hurricane1
Straight-Line Winds1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 7, 2026Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Mar 4, 2021Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
May 18, 2017Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2016Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 23, 2015Severe Storm and Straight-Line WindMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Jun 13, 1997Severe Storms, Snowmelt, Land/Mud Slides, FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 4, 1997Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and LandslidesMajor disaster
Feb 11, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 14
May 22, 1980Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. HelensMajor disaster
Jan 25, 1974Severe Storms, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 1967Forest FiresMajor disaster
Dec 31, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1964

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 50 storm reports in Benewah County since 1964 and about $2.4 million in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.

0tornadoes
13hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
14damaging thunderstorm winds
19floods and flash floods

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 5, 2014FloodTensed$500K
Mar 15, 2017FloodPlummer$500K
Mar 15, 2017FloodRamsdell$400K
Feb 24, 1999Flash FloodTensed$250K
Mar 15, 2012FloodChatcolet$200K
Mar 14, 2017FloodDesmet$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Sep 25, 2024. 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 Benewah County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (49 policies)
10.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$593,103paid on 34 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $502,265 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 Benewah County

$293,500median home value (Idaho $418,600, US $332,700)
1979median year homes were built (Idaho 1991, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17.8%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; 4,757 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
Spokane County, WAModerate31
Kootenai CountyLow16
Whitman County, WAVery Low16
Latah CountyVery Low14
Shoshone CountyLow14

Common questions about Benewah County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Benewah County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Benewah County, about $5.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $409,987.

How many federal disasters has Benewah County had?

Benewah County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in June 2026.

Is Benewah County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 33rd 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 Benewah County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Benewah 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 Benewah County had?

NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Benewah County since 1950. The weather service has also logged 13 hail reports and 19 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.