Enter any address in Oconto County, Wisconsin to see its FEMA flood zone
Flood events, including flash floods and lakeshore floods, are the most frequent types of flooding in Oconto County. Recent events include widespread flooding from heavy rainfall in May 2022, which caused significant damage, and lakeshore flooding along the Bay of Green Bay in April 2020, impacting homes and businesses. An ice jam in January 2020 also led to severe flooding in the city of Oconto, described as the worst in decades.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $8,938 and an average water depth of 1.5 feet. Properties in Zone X_SHADED have also seen claims, averaging $3,504 with a slightly higher average water depth of 1.8 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X_SHADED, as well as those located near rivers or the Bay of Green Bay, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
8 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Oconto County, Wisconsin has recorded 31 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 2 flash floods and 23 river or area floods. The county has received 6 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Jul 18, 2019 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Drought | Drought | Jun 17, 1976 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Apr 27, 1973 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 12, 2022 | 335.00K |
| Lakeshore Flood | Apr 28, 2020 | 100.00K |
| Lakeshore Flood | May 17, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 1, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 1, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 1, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 1, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 1, 2020 | 96.00K |
Flash Flood — May 12, 2022
Scattered thunderstorms developed along an instability ribbon from central to northeast Wisconsin during the afternoon hours on Thursday (5/12). The strongest storms produced large hail across this area. Further north, an outflow boundary caused wind damage across portions of north-central Wisconsin. Repeated rounds of moderate to heavy rain dumped upwards of 7 inches of rain across central O...
Lakeshore Flood — Apr 28, 2020
A strong low pressure system tracking through the southern Great Lakes caused gusty northeast winds across east-central and northeast Wisconsin, which caused some isolated damage and widespread lakeshore flooding in Brown and Oconto counties. The lakeshore flooding damaged several homes near the bay of Green Bay, with over $500,000 of damage in northern Brown and southern Oconto counties. The ...
Lakeshore Flood — May 17, 2020
A strong, slow-moving low pressure system drifted southeast across the upper Midwest over a 3 day period from May 17 through May 19. This system interacted with copious moisture streaming north from the Gulf of Mexico that resulted in several rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall across Wisconsin, northern Illinois and Lower Michigan. Widespread rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches fell across much...
Flood — Sep 1, 2020
Elevated lake levels on Lake Michigan caused some isolated flooded areas near the lake on an ongoing basis.
Flood — May 1, 2020
Record high lake levels on Lake Michigan caused some isolated flooded areas near the lake on an ongoing basis.
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 Oconto 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 Oconto 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.