Storms, floods and disasters in Fence
Fence isn’t graded for hazard risk: Fence has 259 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more.
What Fence 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
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.
Does Fence flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Fence. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Fence isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Florence County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Fence
Disasters that paid out in Fence itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Fence), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding$2K to the Town of Fence for repairs
- 1999Wi-flood-07/20/99$5K to the Town of Fence for repairs
Florence County has had 3 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 Fence after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Fence archive →Fence and its neighbors
How expected damage per building compares across the town line. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florence | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Homestead | — | 527 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Long Lake | — | 170 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Armstrong Creek | — | 518 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Ross | — | 133 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Fern | — | 212 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Popple River | — | 32 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Goodman | — | 515 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Fence 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.
- 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 Fence
Is Fence 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 Florence County, 0.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Fence?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Fence’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 Fence?
By FEMA money that reached Fence, Wi-flood-07/20/99 (1999): $5K to the Town of Fence for repairs.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fence.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fence’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.