Inland Empire Electric Railway Substation · Photo: Jon Roanhaus · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Coeur d'Alene faces less hazard damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Coeur d'Alene gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #14 of 59 in Idaho. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1990.
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 Coeur d'Alene 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
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 Coeur d'Alene’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Coeur d'Alene, and Coeur d'Alene’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts).
A #14 of 59 in Idaho; lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Coeur d'Alene’s residents live in 15 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Idaho town has higher expected damage than 52% of U.S. towns; within the state, Coeur d'Alene has less expected damage per building than 78% of Idaho towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $12.6M a year in losses across Coeur d'Alene: $9.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Coeur d'Alene flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1990
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Coeur d'Alene, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 100% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Coeur d'Alene isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Kootenai County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Coeur d'Alene
Disasters that paid out in Coeur d'Alene itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Coeur d'Alene), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Straight-line Winds$407K to the City of Coeur d'Alene for repairs
- 2017Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$12K to the City of Coeur d'Alene for repairs
Kootenai County has had 14 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Kootenai County, 2015–2015.
Old photos of Coeur d'Alene after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Coeur d'Alene archive →Coeur d'Alene and its neighbors
Coeur d'Alene is 3rd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hayden | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Dalton Gardens | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Coeur d'Alene | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Fernan Lake Village | — | 212 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Huetter | — | 212 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Coeur d'Alene 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.
- 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 Coeur d'Alene
Is Coeur d'Alene at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Coeur d'Alene has lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #14 of 59 in Idaho. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Coeur d'Alene flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Coeur d'Alene since 1990, $35K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 100% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Coeur d'Alene 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. In Kootenai County, 11% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Coeur d'Alene?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Coeur d'Alene’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Coeur d'Alene?
By FEMA money that reached Coeur d'Alene, Straight-line Winds (2021): $407K to the City of Coeur d'Alene for repairs.
Is Coeur d'Alene at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Coeur d'Alene’s rate for it is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Coeur d'Alene.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Coeur d'Alene’s 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.