riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Bear Lake County Disaster Risk

Bear Lake County, Idaho

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

7th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#39

of 44 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

7th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 7% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 78% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 2% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 69% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Bear Lake County

Risk Verdict

Bear Lake County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 7th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Bear Lake County, scoring in the 78th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 69th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (7th), tornado (2th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Bear Lake County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as earthquake also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Bear Lake County is notably safer than the average county in Idaho. Its composite risk score is 31.9 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Bear Lake County, ID?
Bear Lake County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 7th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Bear Lake County?
Bear Lake County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (78th percentile), earthquake (69th percentile), flooding (7th percentile), tornado (2th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 78th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Bear Lake County risk compare to the Idaho average?
Bear Lake County's composite risk percentile is 7th, compared to the Idaho state average of 39th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Bear Lake County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Idaho.
Is Bear Lake County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Bear Lake County's wildfire risk is at the 78th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Bear Lake County is at the 7th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Bear Lake County a safe place to live?
Bear Lake County's composite risk score of 7th percentile is below the Idaho state average of 39th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is wildfire at the 78th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Camas County

Idaho

-0.6

Very Low

6th percentile

Caribou County

Idaho

+0.6

Very Low

7th percentile

Franklin County

Idaho

+1.0

Very Low

8th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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