Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Fond du Lac’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fond du Lac gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #224 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%), then tornadoes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 382 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 Fond du Lac’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Fond du Lac 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 Fond du Lac’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Fond du Lac, and Fond du Lac’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 14% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #224 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Fond du Lac’s residents live in 13 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, Fond du Lac has more expected damage per building than 62% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $16.6M a year in losses across Fond du Lac: $9.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Fond du Lac flood? Yes: 382 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Fond du Lac, from FEMA’s records: 18.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2019 Midwest Flooding103 claims · $2.2M
- The Storm9 claims · $204K
Fond du Lac is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Fond du Lac County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Fond du Lac
Disasters that paid out in Fond du Lac itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Fond du Lac), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides$50K to the City of Fond du Lac for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding2,527 households applied for aid$5.7M aid approved$636K to the City of Fond du Lac for repairs249 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding216 households applied for aid$228K aid approved$29K to the City of Fond du Lac for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Fond du Lac County has had 9 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 Fond du Lac after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Fond du Lac archive →Fond du Lac and its neighbors
Fond du Lac is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taycheedah | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Empire | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Fond du Lac | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Friendship | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Fond du Lac | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 382 |
| North Fond du Lac | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
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 Fond du Lac 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.
- Fond du Lac 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 Fond du Lac
Is Fond du Lac at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fond du Lac has lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #224 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and tornadoes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Fond du Lac flood?
Flood insurance has paid 382 claims in Fond du Lac since 1979, $6.8M in all, or 18.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2019 Midwest Flooding (103).
Is Fond du Lac 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 Fond du Lac County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Fond du Lac?
Fond du Lac 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 Fond du Lac?
By FEMA money that reached Fond du Lac, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2008): 2,527 households applied for aid, $5.7M approved, and $636K to the City of Fond du Lac for repairs. By flood claims, March 2019 Midwest Flooding: 103 paid, $2.2M.
Is Fond du Lac at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Fond du Lac’s rate for it is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fond du Lac.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fond du Lac’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.