309 flood insurance claims·$3.9M paid·2 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Blaine County, Idaho. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Blaine County experiences a flood risk defined by a nearly even mix of riverine floods and summer flash floods. Over the last 30 years, NOAA recorded 15 river floods—resulting in one death—along with 14 flash flood events.
Recent history illustrates these distinct hazards. In June 2023, flooding from the rise of the Big Wood River due to snowmelt and spring rains flooded parts of Hailey, including War Eagle Drive, Flat Top Road, and Camp Creek Road, causing an estimated $1.9 million in damages along Flat Top Road and Camp Creek Road. Additionally, monsoonal moisture triggered multiple flash floods in August 2021, and a burn scar area experienced debris flows that closed Baker Creek Road in July 2021.
Federal insurance claims data shows that risk extends beyond high-risk river corridors. Zone A accounts for the highest volume of National Flood Insurance Program claims with 179 filings averaging $15,699 and an average recorded water depth of 4 inches. However, properties in Zone X also face significant exposure, accounting for 110 claims with an average payout of $17,772 and an average recorded water depth of 7 inches. Homeowners near rivers, properties located within mapped Zone A and Zone X flood zones, and residents living near burn scars or steep terrain should pay the closest attention to flood risk.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
6% of Blaine County’s flood insurance claims were on properties rated outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
191 NFIP claims with a recorded rated flood zone, 1978 to date. The zone is the one FEMA used to rate that policy, which may not match today’s map. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 5 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 2017, with 153 claims and $2.6M paid, the year of Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
4 NOAA storm reports from Blaine County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Idaho flood stories →
10 federal disaster declarations since 1964, 2 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Ross Fork Fire | Sep 5, 2022 |
| Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | May 6, 2017 |
| Beaver Creek Fire | Aug 15, 2013 |
| Castle Rock Fire | Aug 28, 2007 |
| Hurricane Katrina | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Wildfires | Jul 27, 2000 |
| Drought | May 5, 1977 |
| Heavy Rains & Flooding | Dec 31, 1964 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
29 since 1996: 14 flash floods and 15 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 1, 2023 | $1.9M |
| Flash Flood | Jul 28, 2021 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 2, 2021 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 1, 2021 | — |
| Flood | Apr 21, 2019 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2019 | — |
| Flood | Apr 8, 2019 | — |
| Flood | Jun 4, 2019 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flood · Jun 1, 2023. Flooding due to the rise of the Big Wood River due to snowmelt and spring rains flooded parts of Hailey including War Eagle Drive, Flat Top Road, and Camp Creek Road. Damages were estimated at 1.9 million dollars on Flat Top Road and Camp Creek Road.
Flash Flood · Jul 28, 2021. Several inches of mud, rocks, and debris flowed over Baker Creek Road that closed the road. This was a burn scar area and the first of two road closing slide events.
Flash Flood · Aug 2, 2021. Continued push of monsoonal moisture into Idaho caused continued flooding into the first couple of days of August.
Flash Flood · Aug 1, 2021. Continued push of monsoonal moisture into Idaho caused continued flooding into the first couple of days of August.
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Blaine County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.