Idaho Flood Zones
Idaho faces flooding primarily from spring snowmelt in mountain river systems including the Snake, Boise, and Salmon rivers. Rain-on-snow events can cause rapid flooding, and steep terrain creates flash flood and debris flow hazards in mountain valleys.
5 communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System, qualifying residents for flood insurance discounts of up to 15%.
Idaho Flood Risk Overview
County-level risk ratings from FEMA's National Risk Index across 44 Idaho counties.
Inland Flood Risk
0 of 44 counties rated high or very high
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment.
Federal Flood Disaster History
Idaho has received 19 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
2020s
1
2010s
6
2000s
3
1970s
3
1960s
4
1950s
2
Recent Declarations
Showing 8 most recent of 19 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Idaho properties have filed 1,106 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $10.3M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $9K.
Claims by Decade
2020s
58
2010s
404
2000s
165
1990s
313
1980s
128
1970s
38
Highest-Claim Years
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone X
406
Zone A
311
Zone AE
277
Zone AO
23
Zone D
5
Zone AOB
3
Zone AH
3
Zone V
1
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Flood Insurance Discounts in Idaho
5 Idaho communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), earning flood insurance premium discounts for residents in Special Flood Hazard Areas. CRS classes in Idaho range from 7 to 8, with discounts from 10% to 15%.
Class 7 - 15% discount
Eagle
Class 7 - 15% discount
Garden City
Class 7 - 15% discount
Moscow
Class 8 - 10% discount
Class 8 - 10% discount
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Look Up Any Idaho Address
Enter a ID address to instantly check its FEMA flood zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Free Flood Zone LookupIdaho Cities
Explore flood zone information for major cities in Idaho.
Idaho Flood Zone FAQ
How do I check if my Idaho property is in a flood zone?
Enter your ID address in FludZone's free lookup tool. We query FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer in real-time to show your flood zone designation, whether flood insurance is required, and your property's risk level.
Do I need flood insurance in Idaho?
If your Idaho property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), meaning zones starting with A or V, and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not subject to the federal mandate but lenders may still require coverage, and it is often recommended given Idaho's flood history.
What are the most common flood zones in Idaho?
The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Idaho are Zone AE, Zone A, Zone X. Each zone reflects a different level of flood risk, from high-risk areas where flood insurance is generally required for federally regulated or government-backed mortgages to lower-risk areas where coverage is optional but recommended.
Can I remove my Idaho property from a flood zone?
Yes, if your Idaho property's natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in the SFHA, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) through FEMA. For properties in Idaho's AE and A zones, the LOMA process is relatively straightforward when the elevation data supports it. If your property was raised above the BFE with fill, the process is a LOMR-F. A successful LOMA generally removes the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement, but your lender may still choose to require coverage. You'll need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor.
Do any Idaho communities offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes, 5 Idaho communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for exceeding minimum flood mitigation standards. Residents in participating communities can receive NFIP premium discounts of up to 15% in the Special Flood Hazard Area. Properties outside the SFHA also benefit: CRS classes 1 through 6 receive a 10% discount, and classes 7 through 9 receive a 5% discount on NFIP premiums. Check your city's page on FludZone to see if your community participates.
Sources
This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerDirect Source
The NFHL is the source of all flood zone data shown on this page.
- FEMA Map Service Center — Search by AddressDirect Source
Look up any address to view FIRM panels, FIS reports, and LOMCs.
- NFHL Data and Map StatusTopic Page
View NFHL coverage and data freshness by state and community.
- FEMA National Risk Index — Data ResourcesDirect Source
County-level risk scores for inland flooding, coastal flooding, and hurricane used in the Flood Risk Profile.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API v2Direct Source
Federal disaster declarations filtered for flood-related incident types (Flood, Hurricane, Severe Storm, Coastal Storm).
- OpenFEMA FIMA NFIP Claims API v2Direct Source
Historical NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, aggregated by county and state. Includes claim counts, payouts, and flood zone breakdowns.
Sources last verified: February 2026
Understanding Flood Zones
Learn more about the FEMA flood zone designations common in Idaho.