Bear Lake County

Idaho — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

6.6

National percentile: 7th

Bear Lake County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 6.6, 7th national percentile), driven primarily by avalanche and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $5M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 6K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Avalanche
Medium $1M/yr
Landslide
Low $29K/yr
Wildfire
Low $479K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Avalanche Medium 0.10 / yr $1M
Landslide Low 1.04 / yr $29K
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $479K
Earthquake Low 0.02 / yr $1M
Winter Weather Low 27.03 / yr $106K
Lightning Low 34.38 / yr $133K
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $1
Cold Wave Very Low 0.76 / yr $274K
Drought Very Low 78.84 / yr $1K
Strong Wind Very Low 0.40 / yr $101K
Riverine Flood Very Low 0.32 / yr $1M
Heat Wave Very Low 0.18 / yr $9K
Hail Very Low 0.28 / yr $11K
Ice Storm Very Low 0.01 / yr $2K
Tornado Very Low 0.06 / yr $5K
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Hurricane Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Tsunami Very Low 0.00 / yr $0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Bear Lake County?

Bear Lake County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 6.6 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 7th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Bear Lake County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Avalanche (Medium, $1M EAL), Landslide (Low, $29K EAL), Wildfire (Low, $479K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Bear Lake County compare to other Idaho counties?

Bear Lake County ranks #39 of 44 Idaho counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.

What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?

EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Bear Lake County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.