Prevent. Protect. Respond. Recover.
Natural Hazards
- Flood -Damage from flooding exceeds damage by all other natural hazards in Idaho.
- Wildfire - Short-term loss caused by wildland fire can include the destruction of
timber, wildlife habitat, scenic vistas, and watersheds, and increase vulnerability
to flooding . Long-term effects include smaller timber harvests, reduced access
to affected recreational areas, and destruction of cultural and economic resources
and community infrastructure.
- Earthquake - More than 1,000 earthquakes occur in Idaho each year. A dozen or more
are felt; occasionally, they cause damage.
- Landslide - Landslide is the movement of rock, soil and debris down a hillside or
slope. Landslides take lives, destroy homes, businesses, and public buildings, interrupt
transportation, undermine bridges, derail train cars, cover clam and oyster beds,
and damage utilities.
- Avalanche - Avalanches have killed more than 190 people in the past century, exceeding
deaths from any other natural cause.
- Drought - In the past century, Idaho has experienced a number of drought episodes,
including several that lasted for more than a single season.
- Lightning - Lightning is an atmospheric discharge of electricity, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms
- Severe Storm - All areas of Idaho are vulnerable to severe weather. A severe storm
is an atmospheric disturbance that results in one or more of the following phenomena:
strong winds, large hail, thunderstorm, tornado, rain, snow, or freezing rain.