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Bingham County, Idaho

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

Relatively Low overall risk
10th of 44highest risk in Idaho
$23Mexpected losses a year
5federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Bingham County, Idaho has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 60% of US counties. It ranks 10th of 44 counties in Idaho. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $23 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $482 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2017 (severe winter storms and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (88 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $99,000 on 31 claims here.

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

Top risks in Bingham County

$9.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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
$4.4 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.
$4.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 60 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow58.8
$9M
Cold waveModerate81.7
$4M
EarthquakeLow88.3
$4M
Heat waveModerate86.0
$2M
WildfireLow83.6
$653K
LightningModerate74.4
$633K
Winter weatherHigh93.4
$604K
Strong windLow30.6
$322K
HailLow44.1
$227K
TornadoVery Low8.2
$50K
DroughtVery Low26.8
$18K
Ice stormVery Low16.9
$13K
LandslideLow68.6
$6K
Volcanic activityVery Low67.1
$78
AvalancheVery Low20.5
$41

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

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood2
Severe Storm1
Fire1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Apr 21, 2017Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Sep 1, 2000WildfiresMajor disaster
Jun 13, 1997Severe Storms, Snowmelt, Land/Mud Slides, FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 1976Dam Collapse, FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 286 storm reports in Bingham County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $13.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on February 14, 2000 near Pingree.

20tornadoes
43hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
188damaging thunderstorm winds
15floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 14, 2000F1Pingree0 / 0
Feb 14, 2000F1Shelley0 / 0
Feb 14, 2000F1Firth1 / 0
Mar 13, 1959F1–0 / 0
May 31, 2018EF1Atomic City0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 1, 2014Heavy RainAtomic City$4M
Feb 14, 2000Thunderstorm WindCountywide$3M
Feb 14, 2000TornadoPingree$2M
Jun 6, 2009HailTaber$1M
Feb 4, 2017FloodAtomic City$917K
Apr 25, 1995TornadoBlackfoot$500K

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 Bingham County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (88 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$99,483paid on 31 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $79,664 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 Bingham County

$293,300median home value (Idaho $418,600, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Idaho 1991, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.2%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; 17,528 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
Bonneville CountyModerate5
Bannock CountyLow3
Jefferson CountyVery Low4
Blaine CountyLow8
Power CountyVery Low3
Caribou CountyVery Low3
Butte CountyVery Low4

Common questions about Bingham County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Bingham County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Bingham County, about $9.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $4.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Bingham County had?

Bingham County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms and Flooding in April 2017.

Is Bingham County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 10th 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 Bingham County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Bingham 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 Bingham County had?

NOAA records list 20 tornadoes in Bingham County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on February 14, 2000 near Pingree. The weather service has also logged 43 hail reports and 15 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.