Enter any address in Shoshone County, Idaho to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow and heavy rainfall are the dominant flood types in Shoshone County. Recent events include flooding in March 2022, when an atmospheric river combined with snowmelt caused rivers to rise, and a May 2018 event where spring snowmelt led to the St. Joe River reaching minor flood levels, inundating bottomlands and fields.
National Flood Insurance Program data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $9,040 and an average water depth of 5.0 feet. Properties in Zone X_UNSHADED have also seen significant claims, with an average payout of $23,803 and an average water depth of 5.5 feet, though these zones have fewer claims overall. Homeowners in or near river valleys, and those in areas designated as Zone A or Zone X_UNSHADED, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
14 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Shoshone County, Idaho has recorded 39 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 3 flash floods and 36 river or area floods. The county has received 15 federal disaster declarations, 6 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1964–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Apr 14, 2024 |
| Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jan 13, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Mar 6, 2017 |
| Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Mar 31, 2011 |
| Flooding | Flood | May 15, 2008 |
| Hurricane Katrina | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Snowmelt, Land/mud Slides, Flooding | Severe Storm | Mar 14, 1997 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud And Landslides | Severe Storm | Nov 16, 1996 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Dec 10, 2025 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 2, 2023 | 0.25K |
| Flood | Mar 2, 2022 | 10.00K |
| Flood | May 7, 2018 | 0.25K |
| Flood | Mar 16, 2017 | 55.00K |
| Flood | Mar 16, 2017 | 80.00K |
| Flood | Mar 15, 2017 | 200.00K |
| Flood | Mar 15, 2017 | 385.00K |
| Flood | Feb 10, 2017 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Feb 8, 2015 | 0.00K |
Flood — Dec 10, 2025
An atmospheric river brought heavy rains to the Central Idaho Panhandle December 10 and 11. Areas saw 48 hour rain amounts of 2 to 4 inches. The rain combined with snow melt and led to several flooding and landslide incidents. An embedded cold front brought high winds up to 60 mph to the region causing downed trees and power lines.
Flash Flood — May 2, 2023
A slow moving Low brought several rounds of thunderstorms, heavy rain, and flooding from snow melt across North Idaho.
Flood — Mar 2, 2022
The arrival of an atmospheric River, in late February and early March, brought heavy rainfall to the Pacific Northwest. The heaviest precipitation was late February 28th through March 1st. The temperatures associated with this event were warm enough to produce rain (rather than snow), but this also led to snow melt. In the central Idaho Panhandle, this produced strong responses to the rivers of...
Flood — May 7, 2018
Spring time mountain snow melt caused the St. Joe River to rise to a minor flood level during the second and third weeks of May. No structures were affected but bottom lands and fields in the river valley were inundated.
Flood — Mar 16, 2017
Periodic heavy rain and mountain snow melt caused the St. Joe River the flood. Extensive flooding of fields, roads, outbuildings and yards of residences and businesses in the river bottom lands occurred. A few residences and businesses experienced first floor flooding as well. Emergency repairs were needed to stabilize a threatened levee in the town of St. Maries.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Shoshone County, Idaho:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Shoshone County, Idaho that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.