Flood Help Guide

Wisconsin flood insurance and flood history

From FEMA's flood insurance and disaster data · Updated 2026-10-08

9,522NFIP flood claims since 1978
$143.2 millionPaid on those claims
$37,364Average paid claimlast 10 years
0.5%Homes with NFIP flood insurance
20Flood disaster declarationssince 2000

FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data lists 9,522 flood insurance claims in Wisconsin since 1978. The NFIP paid $143.2 million on them (building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments, in the dollars of the year paid).

The year with the most claims was 2008, with 1,548, mostly from Storm.

In the last ten years (2017–2026) there were 2,097 claims, and the average paid claim was $37,364.

29% of the claims with a recorded flood zone came from buildings outside FEMA's high-risk zones (rated zones B, C and X).

About 0.5% of homes in Wisconsin had an NFIP flood policy in FEMA's latest count (8,929 of 1,939,288 residential buildings). In the high-risk flood zones (Special Flood Hazard Areas), it was 19% (5,219 of 27,192).

Since 2000, FEMA has made 20 flood-related disaster declarations covering parts of Wisconsin. The most recent was DR-4923-WI (Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding), declared June 30, 2026.

Flood insurance claims in Wisconsin by year

NFIP flood claims per year in Wisconsin, 1978 to 202605001k1.5k2k1978: 142 claims, $194,788 paid1979: 335 claims, $928,360 paid1980: 104 claims, $241,393 paid19801981: 52 claims, $72,414 paid1982: 97 claims, $96,389 paid1983: 54 claims, $123,355 paid1984: 38 claims, $53,519 paid1985: 65 claims, $276,312 paid1986: 413 claims, $1.1 million paid1987: 16 claims, $11,628 paid1988: 8 claims, $11,564 paid1989: 58 claims, $159,159 paid1990: 185 claims, $857,346 paid19901991: 14 claims, $4,548 paid1992: 36 claims, $108,640 paid1993: 341 claims, $2.1 million paid1994: 42 claims, $318,067 paid1995: 24 claims, $378,309 paid1996: 119 claims, $267,944 paid1997: 819 claims, $8.2 million paid1998: 793 claims, $7.4 million paid1999: 73 claims, $255,039 paid2000: 152 claims, $512,462 paid20002001: 282 claims, $2.5 million paid2002: 47 claims, $562,652 paid2003: 22 claims, $764,484 paid2004: 261 claims, $1.5 million paid2005: 16 claims, $65,141 paid2006: 27 claims, $53,334 paid2007: 184 claims, $3.6 million paid2008: 1,548 claims, $34.7 million paid2009: 85 claims, $459,829 paid2010: 511 claims, $7.4 million paid20102011: 104 claims, $717,961 paid2012: 27 claims, $69,879 paid2013: 127 claims, $1.2 million paid2014: 65 claims, $540,451 paid2015: 40 claims, $189,723 paid2016: 99 claims, $1.9 million paid2017: 189 claims, $5.6 million paid2018: 447 claims, $19.8 million paid2019: 497 claims, $8.9 million paid2020: 174 claims, $3.3 million paid20202021: 33 claims, $216,510 paid2022: 31 claims, $342,490 paid2023: 59 claims, $961,435 paid2024: 35 claims, $834,383 paid2025: 406 claims, $17.2 million paid2026: 226 claims, $6.3 million paid
NFIP claims per year by year of loss. Hover or tap a bar for the count and amount paid. 2026 is partial.
Show as a table
YearClaimsPaid
2026226$6.3 million
2025406$17.2 million
202435$834,383
202359$961,435
202231$342,490
202133$216,510
2020174$3.3 million
2019497$8.9 million
2018447$19.8 million
2017189$5.6 million
201699$1.9 million
201540$189,723
201465$540,451
2013127$1.2 million
201227$69,879
2011104$717,961
2010511$7.4 million
200985$459,829
20081,548$34.7 million
2007184$3.6 million
200627$53,334
200516$65,141
2004261$1.5 million
200322$764,484
200247$562,652
2001282$2.5 million
2000152$512,462
199973$255,039
1998793$7.4 million
1997819$8.2 million
1996119$267,944
199524$378,309
199442$318,067
1993341$2.1 million
199236$108,640
199114$4,548
1990185$857,346
198958$159,159
19888$11,564
198716$11,628
1986413$1.1 million
198565$276,312
198438$53,519
198354$123,355
198297$96,389
198152$72,414
1980104$241,393
1979335$928,360
1978142$194,788

Biggest flood events by NFIP payments

The flood events FEMA's claims data names most often for Wisconsin, ranked by what the NFIP paid. FEMA names events in its claims records; claims without an event name aren't included here.

EventYearClaimsPaid
2025-08-MilwaukeeMetro-Flood2025394$17.1 million
Storm2008715$15.2 million
Flooding1998722$7.2 million
Flooding1997701$7.0 million
March 2019 Midwest Flooding2019283$6.3 million
2026-04-Flooding2026208$6.2 million
Severe flooding2001200$2.2 million
Flooding200318$665,155
Flooding1993118$490,985
Flooding200234$333,345

Flood history by county

Every Wisconsin county in FEMA's data, sorted by number of NFIP claims since 1978. "Insured" is the share of homes with an NFIP policy.

CountyClaimsPaidInsuredFlood declarations
Milwaukee County2,435$29.0 million0.5%7
Fond du Lac County523$7.4 million1.1%3
Jefferson County503$11.0 million0.5%4
Waukesha County462$9.4 million0.6%5
Brown County383$2.3 million0.6%2
Ozaukee County352$3.9 million1.5%3
Kenosha County334$5.2 million0.3%6
Dane County333$8.7 million0.4%5
Rock County305$4.4 million0.4%4
Crawford County235$4.8 million1.0%9
La Crosse County215$1.2 million1.2%8
Winnebago County215$4.0 million0.8%4
Sauk County198$7.2 million0.5%6
Columbia County179$2.5 million0.6%4
Racine County179$2.6 million0.5%6
Vernon County178$4.3 million0.3%11
Waupaca County145$2.4 million0.7%5
Trempealeau County141$2.6 million0.6%4
Oconto County132$1.0 million0.5%1
Pierce County126$2.8 million0.4%1
Juneau County114$4.3 million0.5%8
Monroe County97$1.3 million0.6%7
Richland County95$1.2 million0.3%8
Outagamie County86$2.0 million0.3%4
Grant County85$624,0670.4%8
Washington County78$1.2 million0.6%4
Pepin County75$659,3360.6%1
St. Croix County74$1.5 million0.4%3
Marathon County69$359,3010.4%5
Door County65$597,5030.7%0
Lafayette County61$562,5980.3%4
Eau Claire County58$503,7650.2%1
Green Lake County53$470,7170.4%3
Sheboygan County52$551,4800.3%2
Wood County48$726,9270.4%6
Chippewa County46$336,7470.4%4
Dodge County46$204,5450.3%3
Walworth County46$646,6440.3%3
Burnett County36$279,5280.4%5
Green County36$291,0400.3%4
Clark County35$629,7960.1%8
Manitowoc County35$481,1230.2%2
Marquette County33$431,8530.5%3
Adams County32$89,6650.2%7
Buffalo County29$328,2130.7%4
Jackson County29$447,7400.4%7
Iowa County25$215,6650.2%7
Calumet County24$61,9490.3%4
Washburn County24$852,3170.4%4
Waushara County24$225,4610.4%3
Marinette County22$234,4570.3%2
Portage County22$166,4830.2%6
Douglas County21$717,9430.3%4
Kewaunee County20$134,5100.3%1
Langlade County17$53,3680.4%2
Bayfield County16$137,0190.2%6
Polk County15$104,7310.2%4
Shawano County12$293,6420.2%3
Ashland County11$489,2590.2%6
Barron County10$116,1380.2%4
Rusk County10$290,0580.2%4
Dunn County9$52,5160.3%3
Sawyer County8$69,1710.4%3
Price County6$96,5590.2%1
Oneida County4$14,7730.1%2
Forest County3$33,2590.1%2
Lincoln County3$16,9290.2%1
Iron County2$10,3470.4%5
Florence County1$4,8490.2%1
Menominee County0$00.0%1
Taylor County0$00.1%4
Vilas County0$00.1%0

Flood-related FEMA disaster declarations in Wisconsin

Declarations since 2000 that FEMA lists as involving flooding. "Help for individuals" means FEMA's Individual Assistance was approved for at least part of the area.

DeclarationDeclaredEventHelp for individuals
DR-4923-WI Jun 30, 2026 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes
DR-4892-WI Sep 11, 2025 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Mudslides Yes
DR-4477-WI Mar 11, 2020 Severe Winter Storm and Flooding No
DR-4459-WI Aug 27, 2019 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4402-WI Oct 18, 2018 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides Yes
DR-4383-WI Aug 10, 2018 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4343-WI Oct 7, 2017 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud No
DR-4288-WI Oct 20, 2016 Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides No
DR-4276-WI Aug 9, 2016 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-4141-WI Aug 8, 2013 Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides No
DR-4076-WI Aug 2, 2012 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1944-WI Oct 21, 2010 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1933-WI Aug 11, 2010 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes
DR-1768-WI Jun 14, 2008 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes
DR-1719-WI Aug 26, 2007 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-1526-WI Jun 18, 2004 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-1432-WI Sep 10, 2002 Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding Yes
DR-1429-WI Jul 19, 2002 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1369-WI May 11, 2001 Flooding, Severe Storms and Tornadoes Yes
DR-1332-WI Jun 24, 2000 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes

What to do with this

A county's history doesn't tell you your own building's risk. To see your property's flood zone, use FEMA's flood map lookup. To weigh coverage, start with do I need flood insurance? and what flood insurance costs.

Where these numbers come from

All figures on this page are calculated from FEMA's public OpenFEMA datasets:

FEMA's redacted claims data doesn't identify properties, and FEMA notes that some records lack a county or flood zone. See how we use the data.