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Elmore County, Idaho

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

Relatively Low overall risk
14th of 44highest risk in Idaho
$22Mexpected losses a year
9federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Elmore County, Idaho has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 52% of US counties. It ranks 14th of 44 counties in Idaho. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and avalanches. FEMA estimates about $22 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $762 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2017 (flooding, landslides and mudslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (96 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $108,000 on 11 claims here.

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

Top risks in Elmore County

$12.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 35 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$4.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 years.
  • Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
  • Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
WildfireHigh97.6
$13M
Inland floodingVery Low30.1
$5M
AvalancheHigh90.8
$2M
Heat waveLow58.7
$704K
Strong windLow49.1
$688K
EarthquakeVery Low42.0
$218K
Winter weatherModerate69.6
$163K
Cold waveVery Low12.2
$140K
LightningVery Low22.0
$97K
HailVery Low17.8
$80K
TornadoVery Low7.1
$44K
Ice stormLow30.4
$42K
LandslideLow80.3
$20K
DroughtVery Low18.0
$3K
Volcanic activityVery Low39.7
$7

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 Elmore County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood3
Fire3
Drought1
Severe Storm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 27, 2017Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2017Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 13, 2013Elk FireFire management
Aug 15, 2012Trinity Ridge FireFire management
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Sep 1, 2000WildfiresMajor disaster
Jan 4, 1997Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and LandslidesMajor disaster
May 5, 1977DroughtEmergency
Dec 31, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1961

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 129 storm reports in Elmore County since 1961, with 3 deaths and 6 injuries and about $812,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on August 10, 1986.

5tornadoes
18hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
57damaging thunderstorm winds
18floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 10, 1986F1–0 / 0
Jun 2, 1961F1–0 / 0
May 26, 2013EF0Mountain Home0 / 0
May 27, 2019EF0Hammett0 / 0
Jul 25, 2024EF0Glenns Ferry0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 18, 1995Thunderstorm Wind–$500K
Jul 22, 2008Flash FloodAtlanta Graham Arpt$100K
May 7, 2017FloodAnderson$100K
Jun 11, 1994Thunderstorm Wind–$50K
Aug 10, 1986Tornado–$25K
Jan 17, 2011FloodGlenns Ferry$25K

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

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (96 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$108,025paid on 11 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $56,098 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 Elmore County

$316,500median home value (Idaho $418,600, US $332,700)
1988median year homes were built (Idaho 1991, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.4%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; 12,271 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
Twin Falls CountyLow2
Blaine CountyLow8
Gooding CountyVery Low5
Owyhee CountyLow4
Boise CountyLow5
Custer CountyLow5
Camas CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Elmore County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Elmore County?

Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Elmore County, about $12.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $4.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Elmore County had?

Elmore County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in August 2017.

Is Elmore County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 14th 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 Elmore County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Elmore 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 Elmore County had?

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Elmore County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on August 10, 1986. The weather service has also logged 18 hail reports and 18 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.