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Canyon County, Idaho

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

Relatively Low overall risk
6th of 44highest risk in Idaho
$36Mexpected losses a year
2federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Canyon County, Idaho has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 72% of US counties. It ranks 6th of 44 counties in Idaho. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $36 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $156 per resident. Since 2005 it has been included in 2 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (1 major disaster). The most recent was in October 2017 (flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (350 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $102,000 on 29 claims here.

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

Top risks in Canyon County

$23.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$3.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.

Wildfire

Moderate
$2.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 315 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 floodingModerate80.3
$24M
Heat waveModerate89.5
$3M
WildfireModerate92.5
$2M
EarthquakeLow78.8
$2M
Winter weatherVery High97.0
$1M
Strong windModerate68.4
$1M
LightningHigh84.9
$1M
Cold waveLow26.0
$414K
Ice stormModerate73.8
$323K
TornadoVery Low20.8
$300K
HailLow46.7
$273K
DroughtVery Low20.9
$6K
LandslideVery Low31.7
$420
Volcanic activityVery Low68.7
$110
AvalancheVery Low5.6
$3

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 Canyon County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane1
Flood1

Most recent

Oct 7, 2017FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 119 storm reports in Canyon County since 1956, with 2 deaths and 15 injuries and about $9.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on May 17, 1996 near Parma.

6tornadoes
27hail reports, largest 2 inches
68damaging thunderstorm winds
10floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 17, 1996F1Parma0 / 0
Apr 24, 1991F0–0 / 0
Jul 30, 1990F0–0 / 0
Sep 26, 1986F0–0 / 0
Dec 14, 2000F0Nampa0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 26, 2026Flash FloodCaldwell$7M
May 1, 2017FloodMiddleton$750K
Apr 1, 2017FloodStoddard$500K
Aug 26, 1996Thunderstorm WindSe Nampa$250K
Mar 6, 2017FloodStoddard$250K
Apr 24, 2003Thunderstorm WindMiddleton$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 26, 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 Canyon County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (350 policies)
15%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$101,571paid on 29 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $53,113 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 Canyon County

$390,000median home value (Idaho $418,600, US $332,700)
1999median year homes were built (Idaho 1991, US 1980)
31%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.7%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; 89,135 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
Ada CountyModerate4
Malheur County, ORVery Low5
Payette CountyVery Low4
Gem CountyVery Low5
Owyhee CountyLow4

Cities in Canyon County

Common questions about Canyon County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Canyon County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Canyon County, about $23.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $3.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Canyon County had?

Canyon County has been included in 2 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2005, including 1 major disaster. The most recent was Flooding in October 2017.

Is Canyon County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 6th 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 Canyon County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Canyon 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 Canyon County had?

NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Canyon County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on May 17, 1996 near Parma. The weather service has also logged 27 hail reports and 10 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.