Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Baldwin than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Baldwin gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #205 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%), then tornadoes (20%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 2014.
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 Baldwin 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
Tornadoes
Strong wind
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 Baldwin’s grade
River and rain flooding is 58% of the building damage FEMA expects in Baldwin, and Baldwin’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 20%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #205 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Baldwin’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, Baldwin has more expected damage per building than 57% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Baldwin: $973K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Baldwin flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 2014
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Baldwin, from FEMA’s records: 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Baldwin isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: St. Croix County.The storms Baldwin remembers
None of the 8 disasters declared for St. Croix County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Baldwin itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20203 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20141 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20221 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
St. Croix 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.
Old photos of Baldwin after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Baldwin archive →Baldwin and its neighbors
Baldwin is 2nd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hammond | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Baldwin | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Baldwin | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Eau Galle | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Rush River | — | 523 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Baldwin 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.
- 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.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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 Baldwin
Is Baldwin at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Baldwin has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #205 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%) and tornadoes (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Baldwin flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Baldwin since 2014, $226K in all, or 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Baldwin 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 St. Croix County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Baldwin?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Baldwin’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Baldwin at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (58%), and Baldwin’s rate for it is lower than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Baldwin.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Baldwin’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.