Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to DeForest

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
A−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in DeForest · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, DeForest faces less hazard damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, DeForest gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #204 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then tornadoes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1993.

River and rain flooding 79%Tornadoes 12%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 75%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#204 of 362 in Wisconsin
Hazard risk
A−#204 of 362
in Wisconsin · lower than 75% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
79% of expected building damage
Flood claims
5
paid since 1993 · $38K
Flooded more than once
1
properties
Disasters paid out here
7
of 16 declared for Dane County
By hazard

What DeForest 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

79%of expected building damage
About average · lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

12%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts

Hail

8%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Strong wind Earthquakes Wildfire Ice storms Lightning 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 21% of DeForest’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 DeForest’s grade

River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in DeForest, and DeForest’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 12% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).

Where DeForest sits
DeForest
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A− #204 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).

DeForest’s residents live in 5 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding79%Tornadoes12%Hail8%Everything else2%

The typical Wisconsin town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, DeForest has more expected damage per building than 56% of Wisconsin towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.1M a year in losses across DeForest: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. DeForest covers 5 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 DeForest flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1993

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in DeForest, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1993: 1 claim1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 1 claim1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 2 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 1 claim2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199319962008
19932026
Biggest named events
  • The Storm2 claims · $12K
  • The March 2019 Midwest Flooding1 claim · $17K
5
paid claims since 1993
$38K
paid to owners
1
homes flooded more than once
$8K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

DeForest 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.
Disasters

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to DeForest

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

  1. 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides3 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
  2. 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$22K to the Village of DeForest for repairs
  3. 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$5K to the Village of DeForest for repairs
  4. 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$12K to the Village of DeForest for repairs
  5. 2007Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
  6. 2000Snow$4K to the Village of DeForest for repairs
Show all 7
  1. 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$5K to the Village of DeForest for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in DeForestDane County only

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.

Were you here?

Old photos of DeForest after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the DeForest archive →
Next door

DeForest and its neighbors

DeForest is 3rd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Burke: hazard risk AVienna: hazard risk AWindsor: hazard risk B+BurkeViennaWindsorDeForest
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
BurkeAless damage than 94%river and rain flooding—
ViennaAless damage than 91%river and rain flooding—
DeForestA−less damage than 75%river and rain flooding5
WindsorB+less damage than 66%river and rain flooding4

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 DeForest 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 DeForest

Is DeForest at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, DeForest has lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #204 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and tornadoes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does DeForest flood?

Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in DeForest since 1993, $38K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Storm (2).

Is DeForest 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 DeForest?

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

By FEMA money that reached DeForest, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2011): $22K to the Village of DeForest for repairs. By flood claims, Storm: 2 paid, $12K.

Is DeForest at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and DeForest’s rate for it is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in DeForest.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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