On FEMA’s figures, Wendell faces less hazard damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, led by wildfire
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wendell gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #13 of 59 in Idaho. Most of that expected damage is wildfire (46%), then river and rain flooding (43%). 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 stands out about Wendell’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Wendell faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Wildfire
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 Wendell’s grade
Wildfire is 46% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wendell, and Wendell’s rate of wildfire damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 43% (lower than 96% of U.S. census tracts).
A #13 of 59 in Idaho; lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wendell’s 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, Wendell has less expected damage per building than 79% of Idaho towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $764K a year in losses across Wendell: $560K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wendell flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Wendell. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Wendell isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Gooding County.The storms Wendell remembers
None of the 4 disasters declared for Gooding County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Wendell itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Gooding County has had 4 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.
Get ready for what Wendell faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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 Wendell
Is Wendell at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wendell has lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #13 of 59 in Idaho. Most of the expected damage is wildfire (46%) and river and rain flooding (43%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Wendell 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 Gooding County, 0.6% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Wendell?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wendell’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Wendell at risk from wildfire?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (46%), and Wendell’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wendell.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wendell’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.