Latah County, Idaho
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Latah County, Idaho has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 67% of US counties. It ranks 25th of 44 counties in Idaho. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $335 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 14 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). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (118 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $744,000 on 61 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Latah 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 50.4 | $8M | ||
| Wildfire | 92.1 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 53.3 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 51.3 | $492K | ||
| Earthquake | 43.6 | $237K | ||
| Strong wind | 18.9 | $207K | ||
| Hail | 25.0 | $116K | ||
| Tornado | 9.4 | $71K | ||
| Lightning | 6.2 | $24K | ||
| Winter weather | 14.3 | $15K | ||
| Ice storm | 16.3 | $14K | ||
| Landslide | 75.4 | $12K | ||
| Avalanche | 59.4 | $2K | ||
| Drought | 16.0 | $1K |
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 relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Latah County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 14
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 94 storm reports in Latah County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 9 injuries and about $4.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on May 19, 1986.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 1986 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 2, 1973 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 1, 1991 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 1, 1991 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 24, 1999 | Flash Flood | Troy | $1M |
| May 6, 2005 | Flash Flood | Juliaetta | $1M |
| Mar 15, 2017 | Flood | Kennedy Ford | $800K |
| Jan 8, 2009 | Flood | Potlatch | $250K |
| Apr 9, 2019 | Flash Flood | Moscow | $200K |
| Jun 9, 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Harvard | $150K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 13, 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 Latah 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 Latah 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; 17,591 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Whitman County, WA | 16 | |
| Nez Perce County | 13 | |
| Shoshone County | 14 | |
| Benewah County | 14 | |
| Clearwater County | 13 |
Cities in Latah County
Common questions about Latah County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Latah County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Latah County, about $8.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $2.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Latah County had?
Latah County has been included in 14 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 Latah County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 25th 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 Latah County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Latah 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 Latah County had?
NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Latah County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on May 19, 1986. The weather service has also logged 20 hail reports and 33 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.