Idaho natural disasters & FEMA declarations
ID · 38th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Idaho has had 59 federally declared disasters since 1956, the 38th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Fire (25 declarations, about 42% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Straight-line Winds" (Straight-Line Winds), on Apr 7, 2026. The largest recorded earthquake in or near Idaho was magnitude 6.9.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Idaho, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Fire | 25 | 42% |
| Flood | 18 | 31% |
| Severe Storm | 8 | 14% |
| Biological | 2 | 3% |
| Straight-Line Winds | 1 | 2% |
| Hurricane | 1 | 2% |
| Snowstorm | 1 | 2% |
| Earthquake | 1 | 2% |
| Volcanic Eruption | 1 | 2% |
| Drought | 1 | 2% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 34 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 22 |
| Emergency (EM) | 3 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Idaho's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 2 |
| 1960s | 6 |
| 1970s | 6 |
| 1980s | 3 |
| 1990s | 3 |
| 2000s | 8 |
| 2010s | 20 |
| 2020s | 11 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 7, 2026 | Straight-line Winds | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4905-ID |
| Aug 15, 2025 | Sunset Fire | Fire | FM-5607-ID |
| Jul 26, 2024 | Gwen Fire | Fire | FM-5520-ID |
| Jul 16, 2024 | Texas Fire | Fire | FM-5510-ID |
| Jun 10, 2024 | Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | DR-4789-ID |
| Sep 5, 2022 | Ross Fork Fire | Fire | FM-5452-ID |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Idaho
The strongest magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes attributed to Idaho in the USGS catalog (1900–present). Locations are matched from the USGS event description.
| Magnitude | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| M6.9 | Oct 28, 1983 | The 1983 Borah Peak Earthquake, Idaho |
Source: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Data as of June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Idaho had?
Idaho has had 59 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1956, the 38th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Idaho?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Idaho is "Fire", with 25 declarations — about 42% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Idaho?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Idaho in this snapshot was "Straight-line Winds" (Straight-Line Winds), declared Apr 7, 2026.
What is the biggest earthquake recorded in Idaho?
The largest earthquake in or near Idaho in the USGS magnitude-6.0+ catalog is a magnitude 6.9 event on Oct 28, 1983 (The 1983 Borah Peak Earthquake, Idaho).
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18