Enter any address in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Milwaukee County. Over the last 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 36 flash flood events and 34 flood events, resulting in 5 fatalities. Recent historic events in August 2025, described as historic flash floods with record rainfall exceeding 10 inches in many locations, caused widespread flooding of streets, creeks, rivers, and low-lying neighborhoods, with damages in the hundreds of millions.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows a significant number of claims in Zone A, with an average payout of $11,669 and an average water depth of 1.3 feet. Claims were also noted in Zone X (422 claims, average payout $16,584, average water depth 1.1 feet) and Zone X_UNSHADED (209 claims, average payout $8,127, average water depth 3.0 feet).
Homeowners in low-lying areas, properties adjacent to creeks and rivers, and those without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) should pay particular attention to flood risk. Additionally, the two recorded Lakeshore Flood events indicate that properties along Lake Michigan are also susceptible to flooding.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
44 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Milwaukee County, Wisconsin has recorded 72 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 36 flash floods and 34 river or area floods. The county has received 21 federal disaster declarations, 7 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1969–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, And Mudslides | Flood | Aug 9, 2025 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Flooding | Flood | Jan 10, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 20, 2010 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 5, 2008 |
| Record Snow And Near Record Snow | Snowstorm | Feb 5, 2008 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 7, 2004 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Apr 18, 2025 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Aug 10, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 10, 2025 | 5.80M |
| Flash Flood | Aug 9, 2025 | 60.00M (1 deaths) |
| Flood | Apr 2, 2025 | 1.00K |
| Flood | May 7, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 7, 2024 | 3.00K |
| Flood | Feb 27, 2023 | 20.00K |
| Flood | Aug 14, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 5, 2023 | 1.00K |
Flash Flood — Apr 18, 2025
A cluster of severe thunderstorms with very large hail and heavy rain tracked along a warm front over southern WI during the morning. Numerous reports of very large hail were received, and also flash flooding in Milwaukee.
Flood — Aug 10, 2025
A historic flash flood and record rainfall occurred over portions of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Area and Southeast WI resulting in damages in the $100s Millions. Warm, moist, and unstable air rose along a stalled front to produce numerous thunderstorms and more than 10 inches of rain in many locations. Widespread flash flooding of streets, creeks, rivers, and low lying neighborhoods occurred. A...
Flash Flood — Aug 10, 2025
A historic flash flood and record rainfall occurred over portions of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Area and Southeast WI resulting in damages in the $100s Millions. Warm, moist, and unstable air rose along a stalled front to produce numerous thunderstorms and more than 10 inches of rain in many locations. Widespread flash flooding of streets, creeks, rivers, and low lying neighborhoods occurred. A...
Flash Flood — Aug 9, 2025
A historic flash flood and record rainfall occurred over portions of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Area and Southeast WI resulting in damages in the $100s Millions. Warm, moist, and unstable air rose along a stalled front to produce numerous thunderstorms and more than 10 inches of rain in many locations. Widespread flash flooding of streets, creeks, rivers, and low lying neighborhoods occurred. A...
Flood — Apr 2, 2025
Repeated rounds of rainfall, sometimes heavy, resulted in the flooding of a portion of the Root River Parkway in West Allis. A portion of the parkway was washed out and closed. The heavy rains were due to approaching low pressure and a warm front.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.