Photo: Corey Coyle · CC BY 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Dunn as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dunn gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #277 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). Flood insurance has paid 4 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 Dunn 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 Dunn’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Dunn, and Dunn’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
B #277 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Dunn’s residents live in 3 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, Dunn has more expected damage per building than 76% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Dunn: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Dunn flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Dunn, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Storm1 claim · $5K
Dunn 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.The storms Dunn remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Dane County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Dunn itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20182 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides, declared for Dane County
- 19781 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Flooding, Hail and Tornadoes, declared for Dane County
- 20081 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared for Dane County
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 Dunn after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Dunn archive →Dunn and its neighbors
Dunn is 7th of the 7 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 |
| Rutland | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Stoughton | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Pleasant Springs | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| 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 Dunn 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 Dunn
Is Dunn at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dunn has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #277 of 362 in Wisconsin. 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 Dunn flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Dunn since 1978, $48K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Storm (1).
Is Dunn 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 Dunn?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Dunn’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 Dunn?
By flood claims, Storm: 1 paid, $5K.
Is Dunn at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Dunn’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Dunn.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Dunn’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.