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Clearwater County, Idaho

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

Relatively Low overall risk
17th of 44highest risk in Idaho
$10Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Clearwater County, Idaho has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 53% of US counties. It ranks 17th of 44 counties in Idaho. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and avalanches. FEMA estimates about $10 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,170 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Only 9 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 Clearwater County

$5.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$3.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 115 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.

Avalanche

Moderate
$456,668 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 30 years.
  • Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
  • Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow55.7
$5M
WildfireModerate96.4
$4M
AvalancheModerate82.9
$457K
LandslideModerate97.3
$239K
Heat waveVery Low27.5
$80K
Cold waveVery Low9.6
$48K
EarthquakeVery Low23.0
$25K
Winter weatherLow34.0
$25K
Strong windVery Low4.2
$19K
HailVery Low6.9
$14K
LightningVery Low4.6
$10K
TornadoVery Low3.4
$7K
Ice stormVery Low8.3
$3K
DroughtVery Low13.3
$53

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 high 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 Clearwater County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood4
Fire3
Severe Storm3
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
May 18, 2017Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 15, 2015Municipal FireFire management
May 20, 2011Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Sep 1, 2000WildfiresMajor 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
Show all 13
Jan 25, 1974Severe Storms, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 1967Forest FiresMajor disaster
Dec 31, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1966

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 94 storm reports in Clearwater County since 1966, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $5.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF0 tornado on June 29, 2007 near Orofino.

1tornadoes
36hail reports, largest 2 inches
40damaging thunderstorm winds
7floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 29, 2007EF0Orofino0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 16, 2017FloodAhsahka$3M
Feb 5, 2018Heavy RainGreer$2M
Mar 13, 2026FloodAhsahka$510K
Aug 14, 2014HailWeippe$279K
Aug 14, 2014HailWeippe$250K
May 7, 2009Thunderstorm WindOrofino Arpt$60K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 23, 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 Clearwater County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (9 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$36,548paid on 8 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $27,298 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 Clearwater County

$268,200median home value (Idaho $418,600, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Idaho 1991, US 1980)
57%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
20.5%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; 4,626 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
Missoula County, MTLow19
Nez Perce CountyVery Low13
Latah CountyVery Low14
Idaho CountyLow16
Shoshone CountyLow14
Mineral County, MTVery Low8
Lewis CountyVery Low10

Common questions about Clearwater County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Clearwater County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Clearwater County, about $5.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $3.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Clearwater County had?

Clearwater County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in June 2026.

Is Clearwater County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 17th 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 Clearwater County?

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

NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Clearwater County since 1950. The strongest was an EF0 tornado on June 29, 2007 near Orofino. The weather service has also logged 36 hail reports and 7 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.