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Fremont County, Idaho

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

Very Low overall risk
23rd of 44highest risk in Idaho
$16Mexpected losses a year
3federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Fremont County, Idaho has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 62% of US counties. It ranks 23rd of 44 counties in Idaho. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and avalanches. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,208 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina). Only 16 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 Fremont County

$6.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.
$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 25 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$2.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 years.
  • Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
  • Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow41.4
$7M
EarthquakeLow82.9
$3M
AvalancheHigh90.6
$2M
Cold waveLow52.5
$1M
WildfireLow87.1
$1M
LightningModerate68.0
$616K
Winter weatherModerate78.5
$261K
Heat waveVery Low29.4
$177K
Strong windVery Low8.0
$78K
HailVery Low14.7
$67K
TornadoVery Low6.8
$44K
LandslideLow78.6
$19K
Ice stormVery Low8.7
$6K
DroughtVery Low19.3
$5K
Volcanic activityVery Low49.5
$16

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 Fremont County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood1
Severe Storm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 13, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Jun 13, 1997Severe Storms, Snowmelt, Land/Mud Slides, FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 1976Dam Collapse, FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1962

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 152 storm reports in Fremont County since 1962, with 5 deaths and 2 injuries and about $2.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on May 15, 1984.

5tornadoes
41hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
83damaging thunderstorm winds
16floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 15, 1984F1–0 / 0
Aug 9, 1986F0–0 / 0
Jul 2, 2004F0Chester0 / 0
Sep 17, 2013EF0St Anthony0 / 0
Apr 1, 2025EFUHeman0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 1, 2014Heavy RainMacks Inn$2M
Feb 5, 2017FloodMacks Inn$131K
Mar 10, 2012FloodSt Anthony$55K
Mar 14, 2018FloodMacks Inn$55K
Aug 5, 2007HailAshton$40K
May 15, 1984Tornado–$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 9, 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 Fremont County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (16 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$90,130paid on 7 flood claims since 1978
2023costliest year, with $49,625 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 Fremont County

$314,200median home value (Idaho $418,600, US $332,700)
1979median year homes were built (Idaho 1991, US 1980)
53%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; 8,810 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
Gallatin County, MTModerate7
Madison CountyLow3
Jefferson CountyVery Low4
Teton County, WYLow3
Teton CountyVery Low1
Beaverhead County, MTLow4
Madison County, MTVery Low5
Clark CountyVery Low2

Common questions about Fremont County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Fremont County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Fremont County, about $6.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $3 million.

How many federal disasters has Fremont County had?

Fremont County has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina in September 2005.

Is Fremont County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 23rd 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 Fremont County?

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

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Fremont County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on May 15, 1984. The weather service has also logged 41 hail reports and 16 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.