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Twin Falls County, Idaho

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

Relatively Low overall risk
16th of 44highest risk in Idaho
$17Mexpected losses a year
2federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$7.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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
$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 40 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.

Heat wave

Moderate
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow51.1
$8M
WildfireModerate94.0
$3M
Heat waveModerate82.7
$2M
EarthquakeLow74.0
$1M
Winter weatherHigh95.2
$779K
Cold waveLow41.2
$770K
Strong windLow36.7
$414K
LightningLow54.3
$304K
HailVery Low31.1
$140K
Ice stormLow56.8
$128K
TornadoVery Low13.4
$127K
LandslideModerate93.1
$95K
DroughtVery Low23.3
$10K
AvalancheVery Low54.1
$865
Volcanic activityVery Low55.4
$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

Hurricane1
Flood1

Most recent

Apr 21, 2017Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency

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.

12tornadoes
48hail reports, largest 2 inches
63damaging thunderstorm winds
10floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 8, 1985F1–0 / 0
Jun 24, 1986F1–0 / 0
Jun 5, 1957F1–0 / 0
Sep 3, 1990F0–0 / 0
Apr 20, 1990F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 8, 2017FloodTwin Falls Arpt$3M
Mar 17, 1993Thunderstorm WindKimberly$500K
May 6, 1994Thunderstorm Wind–$500K
Jul 30, 1998Thunderstorm WindFiler$200K
May 3, 1993Thunderstorm Wind–$50K
Jul 16, 1996Thunderstorm WindTwin 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 ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (67 policies)
20.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$24,809paid on 16 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $8,234 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 Twin Falls County

$337,900median home value (Idaho $418,600, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Idaho 1991, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.1%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; 36,429 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
Elko County, NVModerate17
Elmore CountyLow9
Cassia CountyLow3
Jerome CountyVery Low4
Gooding CountyVery Low5
Owyhee CountyLow4

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.