Photo: Corey Coyle · CC BY 3.0FEMA puts Blooming Grove’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Blooming Grove gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%), then tornadoes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2013.
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 Blooming Grove 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 Blooming Grove’s grade
River and rain flooding is 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Blooming Grove, and Blooming Grove’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 81% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 16% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
A lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Blooming Grove’s residents live in 7 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $467K a year in losses across Blooming Grove: $254K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Blooming Grove flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2013
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Blooming Grove, from FEMA’s records: 4.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Blooming Grove 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.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Blooming Grove
Disasters that paid out in Blooming Grove itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Blooming Grove), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$3K to the Town of Blooming Grove for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$9K to the Town of Blooming Grove for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$4K to the Town of Blooming Grove for repairs
- 2000Snow$3K to the Town of Blooming Grove for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$7K to the Town of Blooming Grove 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 Blooming Grove after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Blooming Grove archive →Blooming Grove and its neighbors
Blooming Grove is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitchburg | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Blooming Grove | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Madison | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Monona | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| McFarland | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Dunn | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
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 Blooming Grove 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 Blooming Grove
Is Blooming Grove at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Blooming Grove has lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%) and tornadoes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Blooming Grove flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Blooming Grove since 2013, $739K in all, or 4.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Blooming Grove 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 Blooming Grove?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Blooming Grove’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 Blooming Grove?
By FEMA money that reached Blooming Grove, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2008): $9K to the Town of Blooming Grove for repairs.
Is Blooming Grove at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Blooming Grove’s rate for it is lower than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Blooming Grove.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Blooming Grove’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.