Grove Street Historic District · Photo: TheCatalyst31 · CC0FEMA puts Evansville’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Evansville gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #139 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%), then tornadoes (20%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1996.
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 Evansville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Evansville 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 Evansville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Evansville, and Evansville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts. Lightning adds 1%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
A #139 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Evansville’s residents live in 2 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, Evansville has less expected damage per building than 62% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Evansville: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Evansville flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Evansville, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Evansville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Rock County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Evansville
Disasters that paid out in Evansville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Evansville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding14 households applied for aid$21K aid approved$61K to the City of Evansville for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$9K to the City of Evansville for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding58 households applied for aid$44K aid approved
- 2000Snow$6K to the City of Evansville for repairs
Rock County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Evansville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Evansville archive →Evansville and its neighbors
Evansville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Union | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
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 Evansville 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.
- Evansville residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Evansville
Is Evansville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Evansville has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #139 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%) and tornadoes (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Evansville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Evansville since 1996, $8K in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Evansville 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 Rock County, 33% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Evansville?
Evansville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Evansville?
By FEMA money that reached Evansville, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2008): 14 households applied for aid, $21K approved, and $61K to the City of Evansville for repairs.
Is Evansville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Evansville’s rate for it is lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Evansville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Evansville’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.