Jerome County, Idaho
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Jerome County, Idaho has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 78% of US counties. It ranks 31st of 44 counties in Idaho. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $5.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $238 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2017 (severe winter storms and flooding). No 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 Jerome County
- 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 31.1 | $3M | ||
| Wildfire | 90.2 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 72.9 | $789K | ||
| Earthquake | 58.7 | $319K | ||
| Cold wave | 28.7 | $292K | ||
| Winter weather | 86.3 | $228K | ||
| Strong wind | 19.3 | $128K | ||
| Lightning | 28.1 | $77K | ||
| Tornado | 9.0 | $41K | ||
| Ice storm | 36.5 | $34K | ||
| Hail | 7.3 | $16K | ||
| Drought | 24.1 | $8K | ||
| Avalanche | 34.9 | $120 | ||
| Landslide | 10.3 | $22 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 45.3 | $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 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 Jerome County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
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 51 storm reports in Jerome County since 1963 and about $10.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 9, 1990.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 9, 1990 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 20, 1988 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 30, 1988 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 3, 1993 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 2013 | EF0 | Jerome | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 5, 2014 | Flood | Barrymore | $8M |
| Feb 8, 2017 | Flood | Jerome | $3M |
| Jun 9, 1990 | Tornado | – | $25K |
| Mar 30, 1988 | Tornado | – | $3K |
| Apr 20, 1988 | Tornado | – | $3K |
| May 3, 1993 | Tornado | – | $500 |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Dec 17, 2025. 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 Jerome County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Jerome County
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Ada County | Inland flooding | |
| Canyon County | Inland flooding | |
| Kootenai County | Inland flooding | |
| Bonneville County | Inland flooding | |
| Twin Falls County | Inland flooding | |
| Bannock County | Wildfire | |
| Madison County | Inland flooding | |
| Bingham County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Twin Falls County | 2 | |
| Cassia County | 3 | |
| Minidoka County | 3 | |
| Gooding County | 5 | |
| Lincoln County | 5 |
Common questions about Jerome County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Jerome County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Jerome County, about $2.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $1.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Jerome County had?
Jerome County has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms and Flooding in April 2017.
Is Jerome County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 31st 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 Jerome County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Jerome County had?
NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Jerome County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 9, 1990. The weather service has also logged 12 hail reports and 4 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.