Photo: Ken Lund · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, American Falls faces less hazard damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, American Falls gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #12 of 59 in Idaho. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%), then earthquakes (21%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What American Falls faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Earthquakes
Wildfire
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind American Falls’ grade
River and rain flooding is 58% of the building damage FEMA expects in American Falls, and American Falls’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 90% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 16%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
A #12 of 59 in Idaho; lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of American Falls’ residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Idaho town has higher expected damage than 52% of U.S. towns; within the state, American Falls has less expected damage per building than 81% of Idaho towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.5M a year in losses across American Falls: $922K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does American Falls flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in American Falls. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
The storms American Falls remembers
None of the 2 disasters declared for Power County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching American Falls itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Power County has had 2 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Get ready for what American Falls faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in American Falls
Is American Falls at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, American Falls has lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #12 of 59 in Idaho. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%) and earthquakes (21%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is American Falls in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map.
How much is flood insurance in American Falls?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for American Falls’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is American Falls at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (58%), and American Falls’ rate for it is lower than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in American Falls.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where American Falls’ residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.