Gem County, ID
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Gem County has experienced 7 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Four Corners Fire in 2022. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Gem County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, winter weather, and earthquake, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Gem County has been designated in 7 declarations since 1965, covering 5 disaster types including biological (2), severe storm (2), fire (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Fire | Four Corners Fire |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud And Landslides |
| 1965 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | 96.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 35.7 | 3 | 0 | $1K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 51 | 21 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 44.3 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 5.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 5 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 24.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 53.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 23.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 6.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 19.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 13.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 47.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 49.9 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 45 | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Gem County ranks in the 62nd percentile (Moderate) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 62nd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 31st | Low |
| Household characteristics | 98th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 44th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 57th | Moderate |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 99th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 99th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 71.4% | — |
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Gem County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Gem County, Idaho are wildfire, winter weather, and earthquake. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Gem County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Gem County has received 7 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2022. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Gem County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Gem County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Four Corners Fire in 2022.
How does Gem County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Ada County, ID has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Payette County, ID has the lowest (Very Low). Gem County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Gem County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Gem County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Gem County's composite score of 34 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 34% of US counties.