Photo: Amcc0619 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Chippewa Falls’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chippewa Falls gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #253 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then tornadoes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1979.
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 Chippewa Falls’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Chippewa Falls 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 Chippewa Falls’ grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Chippewa Falls, and Chippewa Falls’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 5%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
B #253 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Chippewa Falls’ residents live in 5 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, Chippewa Falls has more expected damage per building than 70% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.3M a year in losses across Chippewa Falls: $4.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Chippewa Falls flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Chippewa Falls, from FEMA’s records: 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Chippewa Falls isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Chippewa County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Chippewa Falls
Disasters that paid out in Chippewa Falls itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Chippewa Falls), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$20K to the City of Chippewa Falls for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2001Flooding, Severe Storms and Tornadoes$6K to the City of Chippewa Falls for repairs
Chippewa 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 Chippewa Falls after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Chippewa Falls archive →Chippewa Falls and its neighbors
Chippewa Falls 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tilden | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Wheaton | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Chippewa Falls | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Lafayette | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lake Hallie | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Eagle Point | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lake Wissota | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Chippewa Falls 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 Chippewa Falls
Is Chippewa Falls at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chippewa Falls has lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #253 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Chippewa Falls flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Chippewa Falls since 1979, $24K in all, or 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Chippewa Falls 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 Chippewa County, 8% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Chippewa Falls?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chippewa Falls’ 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 Chippewa Falls?
By FEMA money that reached Chippewa Falls, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2016): $20K to the City of Chippewa Falls for repairs.
Is Chippewa Falls at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Chippewa Falls’ rate for it is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chippewa Falls.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chippewa Falls’ 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.