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AHazard risk
Natural hazards in Barton · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Barton faces less hazard damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Barton gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #65 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%), then tornadoes (18%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.

River and rain flooding 69%Tornadoes 18%Hail 8%

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 94%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#65 of 362 in Wisconsin
Hazard risk
A#65 of 362
in Wisconsin · lower than 94% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
69% of expected building damage
Flood claims
0
paid since 1978 · $0
Disasters paid out here
1
of 11 declared for Washington County
By hazard

What Barton 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

69%of expected building damage
Well below average · lower than 85% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Tornadoes

18%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts

Hail

8%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Strong wind Lightning top 2% Wildfire Earthquakes Ice storms Hurricanes Winter 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 29% of Barton’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 Barton’s grade

River and rain flooding is 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Barton, and Barton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 85% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 18% (higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Barton sits
Barton
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A #65 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Barton’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 flooding69%Tornadoes18%Hail8%Everything else4%

The typical Wisconsin town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Barton has less expected damage per building than 82% of Wisconsin towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $898K a year in losses across Barton: $466K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Barton 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 Barton flood? No paid flood claims on record

FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Barton. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.

of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

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

Insurance rates: Washington County.
Disasters

1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Barton

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

  1. 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$11K to the Town of Barton for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in BartonWashington County only

Washington County has had 11 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 Barton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Barton archive →
Next door

Barton and its neighbors

Barton has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

West Bend: hazard risk AKewaskum: hazard risk B+West BendKewaskumBarton
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
BartonAless damage than 94%river and rain flooding0
West BendAless damage than 92%river and rain flooding2
KewaskumB+less damage than 72%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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Barton 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 Barton

Is Barton at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Barton has lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #65 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%) and tornadoes (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Is Barton 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 Washington County, 37% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Barton?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Barton’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 Barton?

By FEMA money that reached Barton, Record Snow and Near Record Snow (2008): $11K to the Town of Barton for repairs.

Is Barton at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Barton’s rate for it is lower than 85% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Barton.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Barton’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.