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Idaho County, Idaho

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

Relatively Low overall risk
4th of 44highest risk in Idaho
$31Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Idaho County, Idaho has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 78% of US counties. It ranks 4th of 44 counties in Idaho. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and landslides. FEMA estimates about $31 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,900 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (straight-line winds). Only 10 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 Idaho County

$17 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 110 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$11.8 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.
$943,077 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Look for cracks, tilting trees or fences on slopes nearby.
  • Ask the county about past slides on the street.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
WildfireHigh98.7
$17M
Inland floodingLow72.9
$12M
LandslideHigh98.9
$943K
AvalancheHigh86.1
$913K
Heat waveVery Low37.9
$165K
EarthquakeVery Low40.1
$123K
LightningLow33.2
$98K
Cold waveVery Low11.7
$82K
Winter weatherLow40.5
$37K
Strong windVery Low6.6
$35K
HailVery Low9.3
$23K
TornadoVery Low6.1
$22K
Ice stormVery Low11.0
$4K
DroughtVery Low14.9
$468

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 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 Idaho County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood5
Fire5
Severe Storm3
Drought1
Hurricane1
Straight-Line Winds1

Most recent

Apr 7, 2026Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 10, 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 12, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 18, 2017Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2015Tepee Springs FireFire management
Aug 14, 2015Clearwater Lawyer Branch Fire ComplexFire management
May 20, 2011Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jul 27, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2007East Zone Fire ComplexFire management
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Show all 16
Sep 1, 2000WildfiresMajor disaster
Jan 4, 1997Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and LandslidesMajor disaster
Feb 11, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 5, 1977DroughtEmergency
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 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 158 storm reports in Idaho County since 1957, with 2 deaths and 1 injury and about $17.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF0 tornado on October 7, 2010 near Ferdinand.

2tornadoes
68hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
51damaging thunderstorm winds
17floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 7, 2010EF0Ferdinand0 / 0
Apr 11, 1979F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 14, 2024Flash FloodWinona$8M
Apr 9, 2019FloodMt Idaho$6M
Jul 16, 2026HailCottonwood$1M
Jun 7, 2010Flash FloodStites$800K
Jul 24, 2024Thunderstorm WindLucile$475K
Aug 9, 2019HailLucile$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 16, 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 Idaho County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (10 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$9,891paid on 5 flood claims since 1978
1999costliest year, with $7,294 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 Idaho County

$310,200median home value (Idaho $418,600, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Idaho 1991, US 1980)
56%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.7%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; 8,903 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
Ravalli County, MTLow11
Nez Perce CountyVery Low13
Valley CountyLow10
Clearwater CountyLow13
Lemhi CountyVery Low3
Wallowa County, ORVery Low9
Adams CountyVery Low7

Common questions about Idaho County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Idaho County?

Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Idaho County, about $17 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $11.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Idaho County had?

Idaho County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Straight-Line Winds in April 2026.

Is Idaho County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 4th 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 Idaho County?

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

NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Idaho County since 1950. The strongest was an EF0 tornado on October 7, 2010 near Ferdinand. The weather service has also logged 68 hail reports and 17 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.