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B−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Algoma · FEMA

FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Algoma as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Algoma gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #289 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 2004.

River and rain flooding 85%Tornadoes 8%Hail 5%

Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded

less than 55%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#289 of 362 in Wisconsin
Hazard risk
B−#289 of 362
in Wisconsin · lower than 55% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
85% of expected building damage
Flood claims
6
paid since 2004 · $20K
Disasters paid out here
3
of 8 declared for Winnebago County
By hazard

What Algoma faces

Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.

River and rain flooding

85%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Tornadoes

8%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts

Hail

5%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Strong wind Lightning Earthquakes Wildfire Hurricanes Winter storms Ice storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 18% of Algoma’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Algoma’s grade

River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Algoma, and Algoma’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Algoma sits
Algoma
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B− #289 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Algoma’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding85%Tornadoes8%Hail5%Everything else2%

The typical Wisconsin town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Algoma has more expected damage per building than 80% of Wisconsin towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.2M a year in losses across Algoma: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Algoma covers 3 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Algoma flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 2004

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Algoma, from FEMA’s records: 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
2004: 2 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 3 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 1 claim2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200420082012
20042026
6
paid claims since 2004
$20K
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$3K
average claim
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Algoma isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Winnebago County.
Disasters

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Algoma

Disasters that paid out in Algoma itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Algoma), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$14K to the Town of Algoma for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$4K to the Town of Algoma for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  3. 2001Flooding, Severe Storms and Tornadoes$66K to the Town of Algoma for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in AlgomaWinnebago County only

Winnebago County has had 8 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.

Were you here?

Old photos of Algoma after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Algoma archive →
Next door

Algoma and its neighbors

Algoma is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Oshkosh: hazard risk B+Omro: hazard risk C+OshkoshOmroAlgoma
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
OshkoshB+less damage than 68%river and rain flooding67
AlgomaB−less damage than 55%river and rain flooding6
OmroC+more damage than 60%river and rain flooding1

Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.

Be ready

Get ready for what Algoma faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
  • Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
  • Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
  • A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
  • Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hail
  • Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
  • Stay away from windows while it falls.
  • Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
  • Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
  • Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Algoma

Is Algoma at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Algoma has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #289 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Algoma flood?

Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Algoma since 2004, $20K in all, or 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Is Algoma in a flood zone?

Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Winnebago County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Algoma?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Algoma’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.

What was the biggest storm in Algoma?

By FEMA money that reached Algoma, Flooding, Severe Storms and Tornadoes (2001): $66K to the Town of Algoma for repairs.

Is Algoma at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Algoma’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Algoma.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Algoma’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.