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Caribou County, Idaho

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

Very Low overall risk
38th of 44highest risk in Idaho
$5Mexpected losses a year
3federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Caribou County, Idaho has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 93% of US counties. It ranks 38th of 44 counties in Idaho. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $4.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $694 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (1 major disaster). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina). Only 2 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Caribou County

$1.8 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.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 35 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$557,763 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 145 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 floodingVery Low10.7
$2M
EarthquakeLow72.1
$1M
WildfireLow81.0
$558K
AvalancheModerate80.0
$502K
Cold waveLow28.1
$476K
LightningLow39.0
$194K
Winter weatherLow58.6
$109K
Strong windVery Low5.5
$47K
HailVery Low9.8
$38K
Heat waveVery Low9.1
$19K
TornadoVery Low3.1
$10K
DroughtVery Low18.0
$3K
Ice stormVery Low4.6
$2K
LandslideVery Low45.1
$1K
Volcanic activityVery Low29.0
$2

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood1
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 13, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
May 5, 1977DroughtEmergency
Dec 31, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 102 storm reports in Caribou County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $5.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF0 tornado on September 5, 2007 near Soda Spgs.

4tornadoes
44hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
38damaging thunderstorm winds
11floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 5, 2007EF0Soda Spgs0 / 0
Jul 31, 2016EF0Soda Spgs0 / 0
Jun 23, 2023EF0Grace0 / 0
Jul 30, 1962n/a–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 1, 2014Heavy RainChesterfield$3M
Jun 1, 2023FloodChesterfield$2M
Feb 4, 2017FloodChesterfield$427K
Sep 17, 2000LightningChesterfield$150K
Mar 13, 2018FloodBancroft$65K
Mar 1, 2017FloodChesterfield$42K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 13, 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 Caribou County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$8,023paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $8,023 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 Caribou County

$241,500median home value (Idaho $418,600, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Idaho 1991, US 1980)
70%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.9%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; 3,157 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
Bingham CountyLow5
Lincoln County, WYLow3
Franklin CountyVery Low2
Bear Lake CountyVery Low2

Common questions about Caribou County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Caribou County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Caribou County, about $1.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $1.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Caribou County had?

Caribou County has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 1 major disaster. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina in September 2005.

Is Caribou County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 38th 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 Caribou County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Caribou 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 Caribou County had?

NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Caribou County since 1950. The strongest was an EF0 tornado on September 5, 2007 near Soda Spgs. The weather service has also logged 44 hail reports and 11 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.