11 flood insurance claims·$108,025 paid·3 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 Elmore 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.
Flash flooding driven by summer thunderstorms and monsoon moisture dominates the flood history of Elmore County, Idaho, accounting for thirteen of the twenty recorded flood events over the last thirty years, alongside seven general floods. Monsoonal moisture and heavy rain brought by a low-pressure system caused flash flooding in August 2021, while a strong upper-level trough and monsoon moisture produced additional heavy rain and thunderstorms that led to flash flooding in August 2023. Other regional flooding has been driven by heavy rain behind warm fronts, such as in February 2017, and above-normal winter snowpack resulting in spring snowmelt flooding in May 2017.
National Flood Insurance Program records show that properties located in Special Flood Hazard Area Zone A face the highest risk, accounting for ten claims with an average payout of $16,961 and an average recorded water depth of 8 inches. By comparison, Zone X has recorded only one claim, with an average payout of $6,256 and an average recorded water depth of 0 inches. Homeowners, real estate agents, and journalists should pay the most attention to properties situated in Zone A, where historical claims and recorded water depths indicate the greatest potential for flood damage.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 8 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 7 claims and $45,670 paid, the year of Severe Winter Storms and Flooding and 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.
11 federal disaster declarations since 1964, 3 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | May 6, 2017 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Flooding | Feb 5, 2017 |
| Elk Fire | Aug 12, 2013 |
| Trinity Ridge Fire | Aug 15, 2012 |
| Hurricane Katrina | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Wildfires | Jul 27, 2000 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud And Landslides | Nov 16, 1996 |
| Drought | May 5, 1977 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
20 since 1996: 13 flash floods and 7 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 2, 2023 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 1, 2021 | — |
| Flood | Feb 8, 2017 | $2,000 |
| Flood | May 7, 2017 | $100,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jul 31, 2014 | — |
| Flood | Aug 5, 2014 | — |
| Flash Flood | Sep 12, 2013 | — |
| Flash Flood | Oct 16, 2012 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Aug 2, 2023. Monsoon moisture in tandem with a strong upper level trough brought periods of heavy rain and strong thunderstorms to the West Central Mountains.
Flash Flood · Aug 1, 2021. Monsoonal moisture associated with a low pressure system brought locally heavy rain and thunderstorms to southwestern Oregon and southeastern Idaho. Flash flood watches were issued to the area due to the extensive precipitation.
Flood · Feb 8, 2017. Strong Southwesterly flow behind a warm front spread heavy rain across most of the intermountain west. Flooding occurred in most of South Central Idaho.
Flood · May 7, 2017. Spring snow melt flooding occurred across much of Southwest Idaho as a result of an above normal snow pack for the winter of 2016 to 2017.
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 Elmore 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.