Photo: Aaronazzarito · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Garden City as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Garden City gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #25 of 59 in Idaho. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 2006.
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 Garden City 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 Garden City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Garden City, and Garden City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 7% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
B #25 of 59 in Idaho; lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Garden City’s residents live in 6 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, Garden City has less expected damage per building than 59% of Idaho towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.8M a year in losses across Garden City: $3.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Garden City flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 2006
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Garden City, from FEMA’s records: 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Garden City is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Ada County.The storms Garden City remembers
None of the 3 disasters declared for Ada County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Garden City itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20084 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20062 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20172 flood claims paidThe year of Flooding, declared for Ada County
Ada County has had 3 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Garden City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Garden City archive →Garden City and its neighbors
Garden City is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Garden City | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
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 Garden City 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.
- Garden City residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Garden City
Is Garden City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Garden City has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #25 of 59 in Idaho. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Garden City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Garden City since 2006, $45K in all, or 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Garden City 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 Ada County, 25% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Garden City?
Garden City is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Garden City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Garden City’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Garden City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Garden City’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.