9,296 flood insurance claims·$132.8M paid·10,869 policies in force
0 flood alerts from the National Weather Service, checked just now. Whole U.S. →
| River gauge | Now | Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| Fox River (North) at Pardeeville | Near flood stage (8.6 ft) | — |
Is your address in the flood zone? Search it above for FEMA’s zone and base flood elevation. A new flood insurance policy usually takes 30 days to start (NFIP rule; exceptions include a policy bought when closing a mortgage), so one bought during a flood generally won’t cover it. Homeowners policies don’t cover flood.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Wisconsin. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Wisconsin experiences a mixed flood risk profile dominated by riverine floods and flash floods, supplemented by occasional lakeshore flooding. Over the past thirty years, NOAA recorded 1,438 general flood events resulting in 16 deaths, alongside 1,043 flash flood events causing 14 deaths, and 46 lakeshore flood events.
Recent federal disaster declarations indicate that flooding frequently accompanies severe storms, straight-line winds, mudslides, and severe winter storms, with major declarations issued for these hazards in August 2025 and January 2020. This mix demonstrates that both rapid-onset flash events and broader weather-driven flooding present ongoing hazards across the state.
Federal insurance claims data shows that risk extends well beyond high-hazard coastal areas. Zone A accounts for the vast majority of claims with 6,334 filings totaling $99 million paid, representing the highest concentration of losses. However, Zone X properties also experience significant impacts, with 1,709 claims totaling $32 million paid, and an even higher average payout of $24,955. Additional claims across unshaded Zone X, shaded Zone X, Zone V, and Zone D indicate that residents outside traditional high-risk flood zones frequently face unexpected property damage and financial loss, making insurance relevant for properties in multiple zone categories.
Summary generated from FEMA disaster declarations, NOAA storm events, and NFIP claim data. Updated quarterly.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims, Policies, and Disaster Declarations data. NFIP policies in force and average premium (premium plus federal policy fee) as of August 31, 2026, from OpenFEMA.
Wisconsin has received 895 federal disaster declarations, including 209 flood and coastal storm declarations.
NFIP claims by county, 1978 to date. Source: OpenFEMA. Counties ranked by recorded flood events →
Properties in Wisconsin FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender, or a federally backed loan, are required to carry flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Wisconsin had 10,869 NFIP policies in force on August 31, 2026, and the average NFIP premium was $999 a year (premium plus the federal policy fee; the reserve fund assessment and HFIAA surcharge come on top, and nationally they make actual bills about a quarter higher). Under FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 each building is priced on its own flood risk, so a state average says little about what any one home will pay.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from properties outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Wisconsin residents can purchase flood insurance through the NFIP or private insurers.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.
See the most flood-prone counties in Wisconsin →
Select a county to view local flood zone data and disaster history:
Select a city to check flood zone information: