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Cassia County, Idaho

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

Relatively Low overall risk
19th of 44highest risk in Idaho
$16Mexpected losses a year
3federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Cassia County, Idaho has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 56% of US counties. It ranks 19th of 44 counties in Idaho. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $641 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2017 (severe winter storms and flooding). Only 17 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 Cassia County

$8.1 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$3.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 75 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 120 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow52.7
$8M
WildfireModerate94.7
$4M
EarthquakeLow74.5
$1M
Cold waveLow42.7
$823K
Heat waveLow56.6
$572K
LightningModerate69.1
$547K
Winter weatherModerate81.9
$259K
Strong windLow23.2
$244K
TornadoVery Low9.8
$70K
HailVery Low10.9
$40K
DroughtVery Low25.2
$15K
Ice stormVery Low13.8
$9K
LandslideVery Low49.5
$1K
AvalancheVery Low56.9
$1K
Volcanic activityVery Low47.2
$12

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 Cassia County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Apr 21, 2017Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Dec 31, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1963

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 242 storm reports in Cassia County since 1963, with 4 deaths and 12 injuries and about $12.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on June 8, 1998 near Burley.

10tornadoes
59hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
134damaging thunderstorm winds
25floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 8, 1998F0Burley0 / 0
Aug 24, 1986F0–0 / 0
Aug 4, 1991F0–0 / 0
Jun 14, 1992F0–0 / 0
Jun 24, 2004F0Burley0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 1, 2014Heavy RainAlmo$6M
Feb 4, 2017FloodBurley$5M
Jun 22, 2005Thunderstorm WindCountywide$200K
Mar 1, 2017FloodBurley$175K
May 16, 2005Flash FloodCentral Portion$110K
Jul 5, 2001Thunderstorm WindMalta$70K

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 Cassia County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (17 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$63,440paid on 2 flood claims since 1978
2005costliest year, with $63,440 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 Cassia County

$284,600median home value (Idaho $418,600, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Idaho 1991, US 1980)
61%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.5%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; 9,096 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
Twin Falls CountyLow2
Box Elder County, UTLow7
Elko County, NVModerate17
Blaine CountyLow8
Jerome CountyVery Low4
Minidoka CountyVery Low3
Power CountyVery Low3
Oneida CountyVery Low1

Common questions about Cassia County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Cassia County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Cassia County, about $8.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $3.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Cassia County had?

Cassia County has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms and Flooding in April 2017.

Is Cassia County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 19th 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 Cassia County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Cassia 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 Cassia County had?

NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Cassia County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on June 8, 1998 near Burley. The weather service has also logged 59 hail reports and 25 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.