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Nez Perce County, Idaho

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

Very Low overall risk
26th of 44highest risk in Idaho
$15Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Nez Perce 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 26th of 44 counties in Idaho. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $15 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $358 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Only 27 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 Nez Perce County

$11.9 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 235 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$697,333 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow57.7
$12M
WildfireModerate89.3
$2M
Heat waveLow56.1
$697K
Cold waveVery Low19.3
$299K
EarthquakeVery Low38.3
$196K
Strong windVery Low8.1
$84K
TornadoVery Low7.5
$56K
LightningVery Low8.9
$41K
HailVery Low8.3
$35K
Winter weatherVery Low5.5
$5K
Ice stormVery Low7.1
$5K
AvalancheVery Low66.1
$4K
DroughtVery Low15.6
$1K
LandslideVery Low42.5
$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 Nez Perce County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire4
Flood3
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
Aug 13, 2021Bedrock FireFire management
May 20, 2011Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Jul 6, 2005Heavy Rains and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 4, 1997Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and LandslidesMajor disaster
Feb 11, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 13
May 22, 1980Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. HelensMajor 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 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 121 storm reports in Nez Perce County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $8.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 8, 1962.

3tornadoes
31hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
49damaging thunderstorm winds
28floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 8, 1962F2–0 / 0
Jun 20, 1969F1–0 / 0
May 31, 1997F0Lewiston0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 8, 2005Flash FloodLapwai$4M
May 6, 2005Flash FloodNortheast Portion$1M
Jun 12, 2022FloodBundy$1M
Jun 9, 2023Flash FloodEast Lewiston$1M
Jun 12, 2022FloodBundy$750K
Apr 2, 2011FloodNorth Lapwai$600K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 9, 2023. 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 Nez Perce County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (27 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$30,562paid on 6 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $23,787 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 Nez Perce County

$334,700median home value (Idaho $418,600, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Idaho 1991, US 1980)
62%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; 18,578 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
Latah CountyVery Low14
Asotin County, WAVery Low11
Idaho CountyLow16
Clearwater CountyLow13
Wallowa County, ORVery Low9
Lewis CountyVery Low10

Cities in Nez Perce County

Common questions about Nez Perce County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Nez Perce County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Nez Perce County, about $11.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $1.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Nez Perce County had?

Nez Perce County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in June 2026.

Is Nez Perce County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 26th 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 Nez Perce County?

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

NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Nez Perce County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 8, 1962. The weather service has also logged 31 hail reports and 28 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.