On FEMA’s figures, Arbor Vitae faces less hazard damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Arbor Vitae gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #95 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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
What Arbor Vitae 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
Hail
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.
What’s behind Arbor Vitae’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Arbor Vitae, and Arbor Vitae’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hail at 5% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
A #95 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Arbor Vitae’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Wisconsin town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Arbor Vitae has less expected damage per building than 74% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.4M a year in losses across Arbor Vitae: $813K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Arbor Vitae flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Arbor Vitae. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Arbor Vitae isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Vilas County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Arbor Vitae
Disasters that paid out in Arbor Vitae itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Arbor Vitae), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 1999Wi-flood-07/20/99$11K to the Town of Arbor Vitae for repairs
Vilas County has had 3 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Arbor Vitae after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Arbor Vitae archive →Arbor Vitae and its neighbors
Arbor Vitae is 3rd of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodruff | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Lac du Flambeau | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Arbor Vitae | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| St. Germain | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Boulder Junction | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | — |
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.
Get ready for what Arbor Vitae faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Arbor Vitae
Is Arbor Vitae at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Arbor Vitae has lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #95 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and hail (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Arbor Vitae 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 Vilas County, 6% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Arbor Vitae?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Arbor Vitae’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 Arbor Vitae?
By FEMA money that reached Arbor Vitae, Wi-flood-07/20/99 (1999): $11K to the Town of Arbor Vitae for repairs.
Is Arbor Vitae at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Arbor Vitae’s rate for it is lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Arbor Vitae.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Arbor Vitae’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.