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FAQs

1. How can I adjust the text size of your web pages?
2. How do I deal with PDF documents?
3. Do you provide preparedness brochures?
4. Do you give preparedness presentations to the public? Is there a fee?
5. What kinds of hazards do we face here in Ada County?
6. How will the public be warned of emergencies?
7. How can I find out about floodplain maps or if I'm in the floodplain?
8. What is the 100-year flood?
9. Where can I get sand and sandbags?
10. Are there designated shelters for the public to use in emergencies?
11. How can I determine if my house has radon gas?

1. This site is designed to be read with a medium text size. However you may adjust it up or down in size to suit your preference. In Internet Explorer go to the View menu and choose Text Size, then select the size you want. In Firefox go to the View menu and choose Zoom, then select Zoom Text only. In Opera click the Opera Menu (top left), select Page, Zoom. In Google Chrome, click the Tool icon (upper right), select Zoom. In Apple Safari, click the Page icon (upper right), select Zoom.

2.See our PDF document page.

3. Yes. Many brochures can be downloaded from this web site, in Adobe format. These files require the free Adobe Reader to view or print them. Brochures can also be mailed to you if you prefer.

4. Yes we do provide presentations focusing on preparedness to civic, religious, neighborhood and other groups. There is no charge to the public. Call our office at 577-4750 to schedule a talk to your group.

5. We are at risk from weather events such as thunderstorms, floods and flash floods, and extreme heat; structural fires; hazardous materials incidents; wildfires; and earthquakes. To see a more complete list of our hazards visit our Hazards page.

6. The public will be warned primarily through the local media. In some instances the Emergency Alert System (formerly called the Emergency Broadcast System) will be used to inform the public and issue instructions. EAS radio stations include:

• KBSU (FM) 90.3
• KBSM (FM) 91.7
• KBSX (FM) 91.5
• KBOI (AM) 670

In addition, the public may sign up to be notified by cell phone of certain emergency situations by signing up for the Idaho State Alert and Warning System at: www.isaws.org

7. You can check with the jurisdiction that you live in, or call the state floodplain coordinator.

• Ada County: 287-7900
• Boise: 384-3925
• Eagle: 939-0227
• Garden City: 472-2921
• Kuna: 922-5274
• Meridian: 489-0383
• Star: 286-7247
• Idaho Floodplain Coordinator: 287-4800

8. The term "100-year flood" is misleading. It is not the flood that will occur once every 100 years. A 100-year flood is a flood that has a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. Thus, the 100-year flood could occur more than once in a relatively short period of time. The 100-year flood on the Boise River is defined as a flow of 16,600 cfs.

9. Sand and sandbags may be obtained by checking your local Yellow pages. For sand look under Sand & Gravel; for sandbags look under Bags. In some circumstances of severe flooding sand and sandbags may be provided through Ada County or the incorporated cities in Ada County. In those instances the public will be advised where such materials will be available.

10. No, although you may still see a Civil Defense placard on a building, these shelters are no longer accessible. Under the old Civil Defense Program designated fallout shelters were maintained for the public. However the Civil Defense Program was terminated many years ago. Currently the American Red Cross is in charge of sheltering. If a situation arises where members of the public need to be sheltered the Red Cross will open shelters in appropriate locations. The Red Cross has agreements with certain schools throughout the Treasure Valley to use as shelters.

11. Call the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality at: 800 445-8647; or contact the US Environmental Protection Agency at: 866 730-GREEN, or go to www.epa.gov/radon..