Photo: Corey Coyle · CC BY 3.0FEMA puts Berry’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Berry gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 2001.
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 Berry’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Berry 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 Berry’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Berry, and Berry’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Berry’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $713K a year in losses across Berry: $516K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Berry flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 2001
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Berry, from FEMA’s records: 14.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Berry isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Dane County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Berry
Disasters that paid out in Berry itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Berry), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides$48K to the Town of Berry for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$6K to the Town of Berry for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$10K to the Town of Berry for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$4K to the Town of Berry for repairs
- 2000Snow$3K to the Town of Berry for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$19K to the Town of Berry for repairs
Dane County has had 16 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Berry after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Berry archive →Berry and its neighbors
Berry is 3rd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Roxbury | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Berry | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Cross Plains | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Mazomanie | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Cross Plains | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Black Earth | — | 428 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Dane | — | not graded yet | |
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 Berry 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 Berry
Is Berry at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Berry has lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Berry flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Berry since 2001, $633K in all, or 14.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Berry 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 Dane 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 Berry?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Berry’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 Berry?
By FEMA money that reached Berry, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides (2018): $48K to the Town of Berry for repairs.
Is Berry at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Berry’s rate for it is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Berry.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Berry’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.