Wind -  April 23, 2002

Event Summary:    $4,500,000.00

The Snake River Plain area in SE Idaho experienced a severe windstorm on April 23, one week after a heavy snowstorm.  Sustained winds between 40-50 mph were recorded, with gusts reaching 60-70 mph,  The area affected ranged from Minidoka to Pocatello, Craters of the Moon, Blackfoot,  Idaho Falls to Rexburg.  10,000 residents lost power in Blackfoot,  Pocatello and Chubbuck. Schools were closed in  Jefferson County.  Poor visibility and blowing dust closed roads, including I15 from Idaho Falls to Roberts; Hwy 20 from Arco to INEEL; Hwy 26.  Homes and power lines received extensive damage from falling trees and blowing debris.

County Summary: 

Flood - April 15, 2002

Event Summary:    $100,000.00 - Heavy spring rains dumped .5" of rain in a half hour in South central  Idaho.  The rain, combined with already saturated ground and spring snowmelt, caused flooding and mudslides.

County Summary: The Banks-Lowman Highway was closed due to rock and mud slides.

The Idaho Statesman  4/16/02

Wildland Fire - 8-9/2000

Event Summary:    $1,000,000,000.00

Over 1,541 fires burned in  Idaho in 2000, scorching over 7 million acres.  A federal disaster declaration was declared on September 1, 2000.  Several times DEQ issued air quality advisories due to intense smoke; air cleaners and fans were sent to Salmon on August 21, 2000.  Over 3 million acres of public and state lands were closed, including more than 2,000 miles of trails, 80 miles of river, and nearly all public airstrips.  The Salmon River was closed for 26 days, affecting 4,000 outfitter floaters, 2300 private floaters, and 140 commercial jet boaters, resulting in lost income and employment for local communities.  13 fires caused evacuations of 14-16 locations,  109 structures were destroyed.  Critical wildlife habitat was destroyed.

County Summary: 

Flood -  September 11, 1997

Event Summary:    $57,000.00

Flash flooding from thunderstorms caused damage in the Boise Foothills and around Pocatello

County Summary: Flash flooding from a thunderstorm system caused mudslides in the Pocatello area, washing out roads and filling yards with silt and debris.  The NWS recorded 1.7" of rain in some areas of  Pocatello

The  Idaho State Journal 9/12/97

Wind -  June 11, 1993

Event Summary:  Tornado in Inkom area caused property damage.

County Summary: A tornado hit the Inkom area, uprooted trees, knocked down a grain elevator and damaged several structures.

Earthquake - October 24, 1978

Event Summary:  An earthquake shook southeastern Idaho and was felt into Utah.  Magnitude 4.2, Intensity VI.

County Summary: A magnitude 4.2 earthquake was felt, which cracked plaster and foundations. 

Seismicity of the United States

Flood - July 1973

Event Summary:  Marsh Creek flood

County Summary: Late spring-summer flood of Marsh Creek

US Soil Conservation District "Flood Hazard Analyses for Lower Marsh Creek"

Flood -  December 14-26, 1972

Event Summary:    12 days of record low temperatures (as low as -30F) caused ice jams on the Snake and Portneuf Rivers and led to flooding.  The ice in the Snake River between Weiser and Payette was about 12' above the river's normal flow level.  The Snake River ice jam was over 35 miles long, stretched from Farewell Bend, Oregon to the Payette-Washington County line, and grew at a rate of 4.5 miles per day.  Over 90 families were evacuated in Idaho and Oregon, and a state

County Summary: Ice jams in the Portneuf River broke free, causing flooding and forcing evacuations.  Houses and farms throughout the area were damaged by floodwaters.

The Idaho Statesman December 16, 17, 20, 1972

Flood - April-May 1971

Event Summary:    Portneuf River and Marsh Creek flood.

County Summary: Portneuf River and Marsh Creek flood from spring runoff.

US Soil Conservation District "Flood Hazard Analyses for Lower Marsh Creek"

Flood - March 1969

Event Summary: Marsh Creek flood

County Summary: Winter-early spring flood of Marsh Creek.

US Soil Conservation District "Flood Hazard Analyses for Lower Marsh Creek"

Flood - August 1968

Event Summary: Marsh Creek flood

County Summary: Late spring-summer flood of Marsh Creek.

US Soil Conservation District "Flood Hazard Analyses for Lower Marsh Creek"

Flood - August 1967

Event Summary:  Marsh Creek flood

County Summary: Late spring-summer flood of Marsh Creek.

US Soil Conservation District "Flood Hazard Analyses for Lower Marsh Creek"

Flood - July 18, 1967

Event Summary:    Flash flood at Inkom

County Summary: "Worst ever" flash flood in the Inkom area, caused by a cloudburst, damaged crops and roads.

Lewiston Morning Tribune  7/18/67

Flood - June 1967

Event Summary:    Marsh Creek flood.

County Summary: Late spring-summer flood of Marsh Creek.

US Soil Conservation District "Flood Hazard Analyses for Lower Marsh Creek"

Flood - June 1965

Event Summary:  Marsh Creek flood

County Summary: Late spring-summer flood of Marsh Creek.

US Soil Conservation District "Flood Hazard Analyses for Lower Marsh Creek"

Flood - December 21-23, 1964

Event Summary:    $21,000,000.00

During the end of December 1964, warm weather combined with heavy rains and melting snow, causing flooding along the Payette, Big Wood, Little Wood, Portneuf, Clearwater and  Boise River drainages.  Hwy 21 and 15, US 95N and 30E were closed.  Over 100 homes were damaged, numerous bridges were washed out, and thousands of acres of farmlands were flooded.  2 deaths were attributed to the flood.  A state of emergency was declared.

County Summary: Flooding from the Portneuf River caused evacuations in Pocatello.  Marsh Creek flooded.

Flood - 2/1-3/1963

Event Summary:    $4,685,000.00

Heavy snowfall followed by heavy rain caused snowmelt, and combined with large ice jams in several rivers, led to severe flooding in the Clearwater, Boise, Payette, Weiser, Portneuf and Snake River drainages.  Ice jams and high water in the Clearwater River raised the Hwy 95 bridge a foot off of its pilings.  An federal disaster declaration was issued February 15, 1963, for eight Idaho counties due to flooding: Fremont, Madison, Blaine,  Owyhee, Bannock, Caribou, Gooding, and Lincoln.  Statewide highway damage was est. at $800,000; damage to county roads est. at $700,000.

County Summary: Bannock County was hit hardest with its second major flood in two years.  The  Portneuf River reached an est. peak flow of 2470 cfs, and numerous creeks, including Marsh Creek, flooded river bottoms and farmlands throughout the county.  Bancroft and Lava Hot Springs were hit hardest, and filed for federal emergency disaster relief funds.  To alleviate future flooding, the Portneuf River flood control project was undertaken.  The $7 million project took 2.5 years to build a 5.3 mile concrete channel with levees and rip rapped banks, to drain 1,250 square miles of runoff.

The Idaho Statesman Feb. 2, 3, 8, 1963; Idaho State Journal  7/10/69; US Soil Conservation District "Flood Hazard Analyses for Marsh Creek"

Flood - February 10-14, 1962

Event Summary:    $15,000,000.00

Floods were touched off when prolonged rain and warm temperatures combined to melt mountain snowpacks and send the runoff rushing into the lowlands faster than the still frozen ground could absorb.  A federal disaster declaration was issued 2/14/62 after extensive flooding along the Portneuf River and its tributaries, The Snake and Teton Rivers, inundating an area from Sugar City to Malad and from Aberdeen to Soda Springs.  Throughout the area, numerous earthen dams and levees collapsed, roads were closed, bridges damaged, houses and businesses flooded.  National Guard and Army Corps of Engineers responded to the areas in hopes of stopping additional flooding.  Damage was estimated at more than $15 million.  Damage to over 1500 homes was reported.

County Summary: $3,100,000.00 - Bannock was the hardest hit of the counties with flooding from the Portneuf and the Snake Rivers.  415 homes and numerous businesses were affected by the floods.   In Pocatello, over 60 homes and numerous businesses were flooded with 5' of water from the Portneuf River, which reached a peak flow of 2990 cfs.  1 death was attributed to the flood, and the city's water supply was contaminated.  Damage to Pocatello was est. at $1.63 million.  Marsh Creek also flooded.  The Red Cross received 141 applications for aid.  In Lava Hot Springs, the floodwaters tore out all four bridges and washed away building foundations and roads, isolating the community and leaving layers of mud.  Damage to the town was estimated at $1.5 million.  In Inkom, floodwaters damaged roads and agricultural land.

The  Idaho Statesman,  Idaho State Journal  7/10/69, Flood Souvenir Ed.  2/26/62

Flood - August 1960

Event Summary:  Marsh Creek flood

County Summary: Late spring-summer flood of Marsh Creek.

US Soil Conservation District "Flood Hazard Analyses for Lower Marsh Creek"

Flood -  February 25, 1957

Event Summary:  Heavy rain combined with ice breakup on rivers caused flooding in the Little Wood River, Portneuf River, and Weiser River basins.

County Summary: Portneuf River flooded Lava Hot Springs with over 4' of water.  Several houses around Pocatello and McCammon were flooded.  Marsh Creek flooded.

The Idaho Statesman 2/27/57; US Soil Conservation District "Flood Hazard Analyses for Lower Marsh Creek"

Flood - August 1955

Event Summary:  Marsh Creek flood

County Summary: Marsh Creek flooded

US Soil Conservation District "Flood Hazard Analyses for Lower Marsh Creek"

Flood - April 26, 1952

Event Summary:  Rain and high runoff led to flooding of the Snake, Owyhee, Payette,  Boise, Big Wood, Little Wood and Portneuf Rivers.

County Summary: Portneuf River flooded 40 acres southwest of Pocatello

Earthquake -  March 28, 1940

Event Summary: Earthquake in  SE Idaho

County Summary: Earthquake shook Pocatello; no damages or injuries reported

The Idaho Statesman  3/29/40

Flood - July 1938

Event Summary:  Marsh Creek flood

County Summary: Late spring-summer flood of Marsh Creek.

US Soil Conservation District "Flood Hazard Analyses for Lower Marsh Creek"

Earthquake - March 15- May 6, 1934

Event Summary:   Aftershocks to March 12, 1934 earthquake

County Summary: Aftershocks to the March 12, 1934 earthquake were felt over a three month period:  March 15, magnitude 5.1, intensity VI; April 6, magnitude 5.5, intensity III;  April 14, magnitude 5.6, intensity VII; May 6, magnitude 5.5, intensity VI.

Earthquake - March 12, 1934

Event Summary:  Earthquake in Hansel Valley (South ID/North UT)  felt over 405,000 square kilometers, including as far north as Boise.  Magnitude 6.6, Intensity IX.

County Summary: Earthquake centered in Hansel Valley, cracked chimneys.  Shocks felt throughout  Upper Snake River Valley, as far north as Idaho Falls and Boise.  Pocatello severely shaken twice, sending people into t he streets and dismissing public schools.  Chimneys were cracked at several schools and at the General Hospital.

Idaho State Journal  2/28/71

Flood - March 1919

Event Summary: Marsh Creek flood

County Summary: Winter-early spring flood of Marsh Creek

US Soil Conservation District "Flood Hazard Analyses for Lower Marsh Creek"

Earthquake - 12/12/1917

Event Summary:   Earthquake in Bannock County

County Summary: Intensity V earthquake in Bannock County; no damage reported

Idaho State Journal 2/28/71

Flood - 4/1917

Event Summary:  Marsh Creek flood

County Summary: Winter-early spring flood of Marsh Creek

US Soil Conservation District "Flood Hazard Analyses for Lower Marsh Creek"

Flood - March 1916

Event Summary: Marsh Creek flood

County Summary: Winter-early spring flood of Marsh Creek; extent unknown

US Soil Conservation District "Flood Hazard Analysis for Lower Marsh Creek"

Flood - January-February 1911

Event Summary:    Portneuf River flood: 4.25" of rain fell in 3 weeks in January following heavy winter snows, causing snow and ice melt and flooding rivers and creeks in and around Pocatello

County Summary: During the the third week of January, the area experienced a warming trend and saw 26 hours of rain.  The thawing caused ice floes to cascade down the canals and rivers.  Pocatello Creek breached its banks and flooded an area bounded by Greeley Street on the north and the lava flows on the south. Another ten hours of rain caused the Portneuf River to rise 5" in 5 hours on February 1, washing out 60' of railroad track at Inkom and stranding travelers.  The floodwaters destroyed the Idaho Consolidated Power Plant, leaving the city without electricity for 5 days.  Houses were flooded, some broke loose of the foundations and floated away.  Wrenstead Bridge was torn from its moorings and was anchored by ropes until it was replaced a year later.

Idaho State Journal 10/24/75; US Soil Conservation District "Flood Hazard Analysis for Lower Marsh Creek"

Flood - 1910

Event Summary:    Portneuf River flood

County Summary: Heavy runoff led to the Portneuf River flooding, covering Center and First Streets with 5' of water and lasted several weeks.  Boats and wagons were used for travel through the center of town.

Idaho State Journal  2/26/62

Flood - May 31, 1887

Event Summary:  Big  Wood River flood

County Summary: Spring runoff caused flooding along Big Wood River, washed out 25' of railroad bed, damaged several bridges

USACE "Flood Plain Information Ketchum, Idaho and Vicinity"