Avalanches & Natural Disasters

Living in a rural, mountainous environment comes with greater exposure to natural disasters such as avalanches, floods, and wildfires. It is important to be aware of these risks in your own neighborhood.  For example, avalanches from Della Mountain in east Hailey have blocked the Big Wood River and caused localized flooding every few years.  In fact, this just took place on December 11, 2022. This event caused icy water from the Big Wood River to flood War Eagle Road to a depth of 10-12”.  While City fire and street crews responded and assisted with diverting flood waters back to the river, resilient citizens in this neighborhood worked on their own driveways and properties to divert the deep, cold water both during the event and after.

The City of Hailey will do its best to keep you informed of any current or anticipated natural disasters. Other resources to be aware of include the Sawtooth Avalanche Center, which delivers daily avalanche forecasts throughout the winter months and offers low-cost avalanche education and safety courses. To monitor rising flood waters on the Big Wood River, visit NWS . For up-to-date information on wildfire activity, visit InciWeb, and for current air quality readings visit AirNow.gov.