Photo: Tamanoeconomico · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Middleton than in 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Middleton gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #41 of 59 in Idaho. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1979.
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 Middleton 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
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 Middleton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Middleton, and Middleton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 7%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C #41 of 59 in Idaho; higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Middleton’s residents live in 5 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, Middleton has more expected damage per building than 69% of Idaho towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Middleton: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Middleton flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Middleton, from FEMA’s records: 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Middleton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Canyon County.The storms Middleton remembers
None of the 1 disasters declared for Canyon County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Middleton itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19798 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Canyon County has had 1 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Middleton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Middleton archive →Get ready for what Middleton 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.
- 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 Middleton
Is Middleton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Middleton has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #41 of 59 in Idaho. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%) and wildfire (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Middleton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Middleton since 1979, $37K in all, or 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Middleton 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 Canyon County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Middleton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Middleton’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Middleton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Middleton’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Middleton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Middleton’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.