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Latah County, Idaho

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

Very Low overall risk
25th of 44highest risk in Idaho
$13Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$8.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 255 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow50.4
$8M
WildfireModerate92.1
$2M
Cold waveLow53.3
$1M
Heat waveLow51.3
$492K
EarthquakeVery Low43.6
$237K
Strong windLow18.9
$207K
HailVery Low25.0
$116K
TornadoVery Low9.4
$71K
LightningVery Low6.2
$24K
Winter weatherVery Low14.3
$15K
Ice stormVery Low16.3
$14K
LandslideLow75.4
$12K
AvalancheVery Low59.4
$2K
DroughtVery Low16.0
$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

Flood5
Fire3
Severe Storm3
Volcanic Eruption1
Hurricane1
Straight-Line Winds1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 7, 2026Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 26, 2024Gwen FireFire management
Jul 16, 2024Texas FireFire management
Jun 12, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 18, 2017Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Jan 4, 1997Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and LandslidesMajor disaster
Feb 11, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 22, 1980Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. HelensMajor disaster
Show all 14
Jan 25, 1974Severe Storms, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 2, 1972Severe Storms & Extensive FloodingMajor disaster
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 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.

4tornadoes
20hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
29damaging thunderstorm winds
33floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 19, 1986F1–0 / 0
May 2, 1973F1–0 / 0
May 1, 1991F0–0 / 0
Jun 1, 1991F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 24, 1999Flash FloodTroy$1M
May 6, 2005Flash FloodJuliaetta$1M
Mar 15, 2017FloodKennedy Ford$800K
Jan 8, 2009FloodPotlatch$250K
Apr 9, 2019Flash FloodMoscow$200K
Jun 9, 2023Thunderstorm WindHarvard$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 ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (118 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$744,053paid on 61 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $332,989 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 Latah County

$368,600median home value (Idaho $418,600, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (Idaho 1991, US 1980)
51%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.4%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; 17,591 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
Whitman County, WAVery Low16
Nez Perce CountyVery Low13
Shoshone CountyLow14
Benewah CountyVery Low14
Clearwater CountyLow13

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.