- Flood Watch: Flood could be possible, be prepared!
- Flood Advisory: Possible flooding, but not expected to be severe enough for a warning.
- Flash Flood Warning: Flash Flood is a sudden violent flood that can take minutes or hours to develop. This warning is issued with flash flooding is either imminent or already occurring.
- Flood Warning: Flooding is either imminent or already occurring.
- Surface water flowing over road shoulder and/or edge of Road: The City will install “Water Over Roadway” signage and impose Weight Restrictions. This condition is typically re-occurring with an approximate Big Wood River Gauge reading of 3.8 feet, plus or minus.
- Surface water reducing roadway to a single lane: The City will install “Road Closed” signage at obstructed locations with “Local Traffic Only” signage at the next closest intersection in either direction. This condition is typically re-occurring with an approximate Big Wood River Gauge reading of 4.5 feet, plus or minus.
- Water over entire roadway with loss of visual confirmation of travel surface location and condition, thereby endangering emergency services, OR other identifiable hazards: This condition results in mandatory evacuation for the safety of the general public and emergency responders. Properties subject to mandatory evacuations, if any, will be contacted by the City of Hailey in coordination with the Blaine County Sheriff’s Department.
- Determine if your property is located in the Floodplain.
- Purchase Flood Insurance: It can take up to 30 days to go into effect!
- Prepare your home!
- Keep drainage channels and pipes free of obstructions and debris.
- Setup sandbags within 3 feet of your structure.
- Make sure your sump pump is working.
- Mark your circuit breakers/fuses.
- Move or anchor any outdoor furniture/equipment.
- Keep an emergency supply of items such as: of non-perishable food, water, batteries, flashlights, and battery-operated radio.
- Make sure your cell phone is charged.
- Develop and practice an evacuation plan for your family.
- Establish contact point if your family gets separated.
- Take inventory of home and retain this list/video/pictures for potential insurance claims.
- Move valuables, important paperwork, furniture and HVAC equipment when possible, to higher areas of the dwelling to minimize damages.
- Sign up for Blaine County Emergency communications: Notify Me and CodeRed.
- If its likely you will flood, don’t wait to evacuate your family and pets.
- Visit www.blaineemergency.org or tune-in to local commercial radio or television stations for Watch and Warning Bulletins and any corresponding emergency instructions.
- Do not walk or drive through flood waters.
- Do not attempt to drive or wade through deep pockets of water or running washes.
- Obey evacuation orders. If able to do so safely, disconnect utilities and appliances
- Avoid low-lying areas, seek shelter in highest areas possible such as top floors, attics or even roofs
- Fill tubs, sinks, and jugs with water in case water becomes contaminated.
- Keep evacuation plan and emergency supply bag readily available.
- Listen to the radio for emergency instructions.
- Avoid driving if possible until area has been cleared by emergency personnel.
- Avoid disaster areas until emergency personnel authorize access.
- Contact your insurance company to determine next steps.
- Check for structural damage before entering home.
- Throw away any food/drink items that have come in contact with flood waters, even canned goods.
- Do not use matches, lighters or other open flames when entering home, gas could be trapped inside.
- Keep power and gas off until a professional has inspected it.
- Follow established permitting procedures for the property damage repairs.
- Ensure inside edge of sandbags or other flood protection measures should be no more than 3 ft from the edge of the structure whenever reasonably feasible, with the understanding that some flood protection barriers need a little more room to make turning radiuses around structure corners.
- Do not walk or drive through flood waters.
- Keep emergency supply bag and evacuation plan readily available for you and your family.
- Do not re-route waters from your property to your neighbors or the street.
- Floodwaters may carry raw sewage, chemical waste and other disease-spreading substances. If you've come in contact with floodwaters, wash your hands with soap and disinfected water.
- Electric current passes easily through water, so stay away from downed power lines and electrical wires.
- Animals get scared and lose their homes in floods, too. Be aware that even domesticated animals may be confused and unpredictable in a flood situation. Be aware that undomesticated animals could find shelter in your or property after a flood.
- Road Closure and Sandbag Location Map
- Flood Smart
- Blaine County Code Red
- Your insurance agency
- Ready
- National Weather Service Flood Safety
- Idaho Power
- Idaho Power Phone Number: 1-800-488-6151
- Intermountain Gas
- Big Wood River HydroGraph
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- Blaine County Local Flood Resource List 2023
- Rain-for-Rent-Overview
Floodplain Management
It's never too late to think about long term planning to prevent flood loss in the future, and to provide peace of mind when the snow pack starts to melt.
The City of Hailey has a Flood Hazard Overlay District, which includes all property that has been determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to be in the Special Flood Hazard Area. This zoning district has been set up to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare, and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions.
The City of Hailey participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, which assures that flood insurance is available to everyone in the City. This program is set up to help reduce the flood hazard and lower the cost of flood insurance within the city. If you live in the floodplain and do not have flood insurance, check with your insurance agent. A standard homeowner's insurance policy does not provide flood damage coverage. According to most insurance carriers in the area, a 30-day waiting period exists for flood insurance to be effective, so if you feel flooding in your neighborhood may impact you, make sure that you have your flood insurance in place ahead of time. The City of Hailey Floodplain Manager is available to assist with any technical questions you may have about flood insurance policies and coverage. Please call 788-9815, to find out more information
The City of Hailey regulates activities, which occur within the Flood Hazard Overlay District through Section 17.04J of the Zoning Title.
A Flood Hazard Development Permit is required prior to any development within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). This includes additions to existing buildings, any excavation or grading, the construction of new structures, fencing and stream alteration. Some projects may also require approval from the Idaho Department of Water Resources and the Army Corp of Engineers. If you are uncertain if your project would require a permit and/or prior approval, please contact the Floodplain Administrator or Building Departments prior to the commencement of any work.
Floodplains provide many benefits and functions, which are valuable to our community. Simply put, a properly functioning floodplain helps reduce flood losses and erosion, improves water quality and wildlife habitat, and provides recreational and educational opportunities.
It is important to remember that even if you are not directly adjacent to the river or creek, your actions could impact the quality of the water. Storm water drains to the waterways and carries with it any pollutants it encounters along the way. Common pollutants, which seriously impact the water quality, include fertilizer, pesticides and oils.
The main watercourses within Hailey are the Big Wood River, Indian Creek and Quigley Creek. If you live or own property near one of these waterways, you may be in the floodplain. FEMA produces a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), which is available for review at the City of Hailey. To find out where your property is in relation to the floodplain, contact the Floodplain Administrator at 208.788.9815 or visit the link below:
Elevation Certificates
The City of Hailey also maintains Flood Elevation Certificates for the streets listed below. If an address is not listed, please contact the Community Development at 208.788.9815 ext. 2027.
- 1461 2nd Avenue North
- 1621 2nd Avenue North
- 1641 2nd Avenue North
- 1660 2nd Avenue North
- 1661 2nd Avenue North
- 1740 2nd Avenue North
- 1741 2nd Avenue North
- 1760 2nd Avenue North
- 1780 2nd Avenue North
- 1781 2nd Avenue North
- 1840 2nd Avenue North
- 1880 2nd Avenue North
- 1820 2nd Avenue North
- 1830 2nd Avenue North
- 1940 2nd Avenue North
- 1980 2nd Avenue North
