Barteau Bridge · Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Bovina faces less hazard damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bovina gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 25 claims here since 1978.
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 Bovina’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bovina 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
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 Bovina’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bovina, and Bovina’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 6% (higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts).
B lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Bovina’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $515K a year in losses across Bovina: $345K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bovina flood? Sometimes: 25 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bovina, from FEMA’s records: 49.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2026-04-Flooding19 claims · $626K
Bovina isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Outagamie County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Bovina
Disasters that paid out in Bovina itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Bovina), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$33K to the Town of Bovina for repairs19 flood claims paid that year
Outagamie County has had 8 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Bovina after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bovina archive →Bovina and its neighbors
Bovina is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellington | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Bovina | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Liberty | — | 921 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Maine | — | 740 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Black Creek | — | 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 Bovina 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.
- 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 Bovina
Is Bovina at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bovina has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and tornadoes (6%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bovina flood?
Flood insurance has paid 25 claims in Bovina since 1978, $646K in all, or 49.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from 2026-04-Flooding (19).
Is Bovina 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 Outagamie County, 34% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bovina?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bovina’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 Bovina?
By FEMA money that reached Bovina, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2026): $33K to the Town of Bovina for repairs. By flood claims, 2026-04-Flooding: 19 paid, $626K.
Is Bovina at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Bovina’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bovina.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bovina’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.