Custer County, ID Environment & Hazard Risk

• LandslideRelatively High$414K/yr expected annual loss, about 7.3 events a year
• AvalancheVery High$3M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• WildfireRelatively Low$544K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 796 years
• EarthquakeRelatively Low$951K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 36 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$40K/yr expected annual loss, about 20 events a year
• LightningRelatively Low$115K/yr expected annual loss, about 28 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Low$266K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• Volcanic activityVery Low$1/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,667 years
• Heat waveVery Low$39.8K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
• Strong windVery Low$82.1K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• DroughtVery Low$387/yr expected annual loss, about 94 events a year
• Ice stormVery Low$2,360/yr expected annual loss, about once every 67 years
• TornadoVery Low$4,151/yr expected annual loss, about once every 8 years
• HailVery Low$1,830/yr expected annual loss, about once every 13 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: coastal flooding, hurricane, riverine flooding, tsunami.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

17 of 4,224 (0.4%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

0

Flood claims since 1978

1

Claims paid since 1978

$1,902

• Heavy Snow103 · 1 death
• Winter Storm60
• High Wind36
• Thunderstorm Wind32
• Avalanche25 · 3 deaths
• Wildfire22
• Flash Flood11
• Extreme Cold/Wind Chill9
• Hail9
• Flood8

• Heavy Snow01/27/2021

  Sun Valley Region

  1 death

  What happened

  An atmospheric river event brought extreme snowfall amounts to the Sun Valley region over several days. 33.5 inches was measured by the COOP in Ketchum. Other amounts estimated at SNOTEL sites were: Chocolate Gulch 31 inches, Dollarhide Summit 42 inches, Galena 17 inches, Galena Summit 43 inches, Hyndman 21 inches, and Lost Wood Divide 29 inches. Bald Mountain at summit of Sun Valley ski resort measured 51 inches of snow. A 67 year old male died while skiing on January 29th in the extremely deep snow from asyphixiation after suffering an accident.

• Avalanche01/15/2020

  Sun Valley Region

  1 death

  What happened

  An avalanche in the Baker Creek area in Blaine County killed a 50 year old man of Jerome Idaho. Two snowmobliers were caught in the avalanche at about 9,000 feet in elevation and only one survived.

• Avalanche03/12/2023

  Sawtooth-Stanley Basin

  1 death

  What happened

  At around 1230 PM MDT a 29 year old snowmobiler was killed when buried under 6 feet of snow due to an avalanche near Observation Peak in the Stanley Lake Creek drainage area. The elevation was about 8,500 feet.

• Avalanche02/19/2021

  Sun Valley Region

  1 death

  What happened

  A snowmobiler triggered an avalanche 8 miles southwest of Galena Summit in the Sawtooth recreation area and was killed by the avalanche. He was on a south facing slope near 9 thousand feet in elevation and triggered a very large avalanche that was approximately 500 feet wide and ran over 1000 vertical feet. He was caught and carried into trees near the bottom of the avalanche path.

• Flood05/01/2017

  Stanley, Custer County

  $3.5M damage

  What happened

  The Salmon River in Salmon reached moderate flood stage in May and this caused flooding from the headwaters of the Salmon south through Challis into Custer County. Trail Creek, Valley Creek, Garden Creek and Antelope Creek all overflowed banks with flood warnings throughout the month continuing in Custer County. Major damage occurred to backcountry roads and campgrounds. Significant agriculture damage occurred due to flooded fields. Road and bridge damage required significant repair along with significant USFS infrastructure damage. The cost of damage and flood protection rose above 3 million dollars for the month.

• Thunderstorm Wind83 kt wind07/04/2008

  Stanley, Custer County

  3 injured, $420K damage

  What happened

  Microburst winds estimated to be as high as 95 mph did extensive damage at the Redfish Lake campgrounds. Up to 1,000 Lodge-pole pine trees were uprooted with several snapped 3 to 5 feet above ground level. Twenty to forty Douglas Firs uprooted as well. The average diameter of the snapped Lodge-pole pine trees was 5 to 14 inches and the average Douglas Fir diameter was 10 to 24 inches. At the Glacier View Campground, 3 people camping were injured including one sustaining a broken leg. All of those injured were taken by ambulance to care facilities. Campground facilities were damaged with multiple vehicles damaged from the trees falling as well.

• Challis City ofServes 900 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+19 monitoring or reporting
• Mackay City ofServes 566 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Round Valley Water AssnServes 125 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Antelope Creek Living CenterServes 27 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations