Twin Falls County, Idaho
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Twin Falls County, Idaho has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 53% of US counties. It ranks 16th of 44 counties in Idaho. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $17 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $184 per resident. Since 2005 it has been included in 2 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (1 major disaster). The most recent was in April 2017 (severe winter storms and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (67 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $25,000 on 16 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Twin Falls 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 | 51.1 | $8M | ||
| Wildfire | 94.0 | $3M | ||
| Heat wave | 82.7 | $2M | ||
| Earthquake | 74.0 | $1M | ||
| Winter weather | 95.2 | $779K | ||
| Cold wave | 41.2 | $770K | ||
| Strong wind | 36.7 | $414K | ||
| Lightning | 54.3 | $304K | ||
| Hail | 31.1 | $140K | ||
| Ice storm | 56.8 | $128K | ||
| Tornado | 13.4 | $127K | ||
| Landslide | 93.1 | $95K | ||
| Drought | 23.3 | $10K | ||
| Avalanche | 54.1 | $865 | ||
| Volcanic activity | 55.4 | $22 |
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 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 Twin Falls 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 1957
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 143 storm reports in Twin Falls County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $3.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on September 8, 1985.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 8, 1985 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 24, 1986 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 5, 1957 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 3, 1990 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 20, 1990 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 8, 2017 | Flood | Twin Falls Arpt | $3M |
| Mar 17, 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kimberly | $500K |
| May 6, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | – | $500K |
| Jul 30, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Filer | $200K |
| May 3, 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | – | $50K |
| Jul 16, 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Twin Falls | $50K |
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 Twin Falls 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 Twin Falls 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; 36,429 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Elko County, NV | 17 | |
| Elmore County | 9 | |
| Cassia County | 3 | |
| Jerome County | 4 | |
| Gooding County | 5 | |
| Owyhee County | 4 |
Cities in Twin Falls County
Common questions about Twin Falls County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Twin Falls County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Twin Falls County, about $7.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $3 million.
How many federal disasters has Twin Falls County had?
Twin Falls County has been included in 2 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2005, including 1 major disaster. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms and Flooding in April 2017.
Is Twin Falls County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 16th 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 Twin Falls County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Twin Falls 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 Twin Falls County had?
NOAA records list 12 tornadoes in Twin Falls County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on September 8, 1985. The weather service has also logged 48 hail reports and 10 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.