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Bonner County, Idaho

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

Relatively Low overall risk
5th of 44highest risk in Idaho
$35Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Bonner County, Idaho has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 77% of US counties. It ranks 5th of 44 counties in Idaho. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, avalanches and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $35 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $753 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 16 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). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (135 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $156,000 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 Bonner County

$27.7 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.
$3.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
  • Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.2 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
Inland floodingModerate87.0
$28M
AvalancheHigh94.6
$3M
Cold waveModerate71.6
$2M
WildfireLow82.7
$523K
Heat waveLow53.9
$424K
EarthquakeVery Low55.8
$353K
Winter weatherHigh86.5
$290K
Ice stormModerate71.3
$223K
LightningLow46.9
$198K
Strong windLow20.4
$176K
LandslideModerate93.9
$96K
TornadoVery Low10.3
$65K
HailVery Low5.5
$14K
DroughtVery Low13.4
$110

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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm7
Fire3
Flood3
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
Aug 15, 2025Sunset FireFire management
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
Jul 6, 2015Cape Horn FireFire management
May 20, 2011Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Show all 16
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
May 22, 1980Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. HelensMajor disaster
Jan 25, 1974Severe Storms, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 1967Forest FiresMajor 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 124 storm reports in Bonner County since 1964, with 2 deaths and 12 injuries and about $12.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 9, 1991.

4tornadoes
29hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
57damaging thunderstorm winds
23floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 9, 1991F2–0 / 0
Aug 19, 1978F1–1 / 0
May 29, 1994F1–0 / 0
Jun 25, 2004F0Coolin0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 7, 2006FloodClark Fork$2M
Jul 23, 2014Thunderstorm WindLakeview$2M
Aug 2, 2014Thunderstorm WindOutlet Bay$2M
Mar 15, 2017FloodNordman$2M
Mar 31, 2011FloodElmira$2M
Mar 30, 2012FloodWestmond$550K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Dec 10, 2025. 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 Bonner County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (135 policies)
9.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$156,037paid on 40 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $67,830 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 Bonner County

$487,900median home value (Idaho $418,600, US $332,700)
1990median year homes were built (Idaho 1991, US 1980)
36%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.3%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; 26,867 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
Lincoln County, MTLow12
Pend Oreille County, WAVery Low19
Shoshone CountyLow14
Sanders County, MTLow14
Boundary CountyVery Low10

Common questions about Bonner County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Bonner County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Bonner County, about $27.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Avalanche is second at $3.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Bonner County had?

Bonner County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in June 2026.

Is Bonner County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 5th 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 Bonner County?

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

NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Bonner County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 9, 1991. The weather service has also logged 29 hail reports and 23 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.