Island Woolen Company Office Building · Photo: Tgkrause · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Baraboo than in 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Baraboo gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #226 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then tornadoes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1993.
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 stands out about Baraboo’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Baraboo 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
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 Baraboo’s grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Baraboo, and Baraboo’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 13%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #226 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Baraboo’s residents live in 6 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, Baraboo has more expected damage per building than 62% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.6M a year in losses across Baraboo: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Baraboo flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1993
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Baraboo, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Storm1 claim · $65K
Baraboo isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sauk County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Baraboo
Disasters that paid out in Baraboo itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Baraboo), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding11 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
- 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides12 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$57K to the City of Baraboo for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding327 households applied for aid$566K aid approved$304K to the City of Baraboo for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding17 households applied for aid$15K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding40 households applied for aid$46K aid approved
- 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$19K to the City of Baraboo for repairs
Sauk County has had 12 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 Baraboo after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Baraboo archive →Baraboo and its neighbors
Baraboo is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Baraboo | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Baraboo | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Baraboo | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Greenfield | — | 961 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 Baraboo 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.
- 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 Baraboo
Is Baraboo at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Baraboo has lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #226 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and tornadoes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Baraboo flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Baraboo since 1993, $233K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Storm (1).
Is Baraboo 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 Sauk County, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Baraboo?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Baraboo’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 Baraboo?
By FEMA money that reached Baraboo, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2008): 327 households applied for aid, $566K approved, and $304K to the City of Baraboo for repairs. By flood claims, Storm: 1 paid, $65K.
Is Baraboo at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Baraboo’s rate for it is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Baraboo.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Baraboo’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.