Photo: Ken Lund · CC BY-SA 2.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Soda Springs than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Soda Springs gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #37 of 59 in Idaho. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (51%), then earthquakes (31%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2017.
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 Soda Springs 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 Soda Springs’ grade
River and rain flooding is 51% of the building damage FEMA expects in Soda Springs, and Soda Springs’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 50% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 16%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
C #37 of 59 in Idaho; higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Soda Springs’ residents live in 2 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, Soda Springs has more expected damage per building than 62% of Idaho towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Soda Springs: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Soda Springs flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2017
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Soda Springs, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Soda Springs isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Caribou County.The storms Soda Springs remembers
None of the 2 disasters declared for Caribou County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Soda Springs itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20171 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Caribou 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.
Old photos of Soda Springs after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Soda Springs archive →Get ready for what Soda Springs 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 Soda Springs
Is Soda Springs at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Soda Springs has higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #37 of 59 in Idaho. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (51%) and earthquakes (31%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Soda Springs flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Soda Springs since 2017, $8K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Soda Springs 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 Caribou County, 0.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Soda Springs?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Soda Springs’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Soda Springs at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (51%), and Soda Springs’ rate for it is higher than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Soda Springs.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Soda Springs’ 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.