Elderwood · Photo: Boscophotos · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Glendale faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Glendale gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #299 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 223 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 stands out about Glendale’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Glendale 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
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 Glendale’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Glendale, and Glendale’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 5% (higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #299 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Glendale’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, Glendale has more expected damage per building than 83% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.1M a year in losses across Glendale: $4.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Glendale flood? Yes: 223 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Glendale, from FEMA’s records: 34.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2025-08-MilwaukeeMetro-Flood70 claims · $1.1M
- The Storm30 claims · $184K
- The March 2019 Midwest Flooding1 claim · $26K
Glendale isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Milwaukee County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Glendale
Disasters that paid out in Glendale itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Glendale), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding26 households applied for aid$57K aid approved
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Mudslides215 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved70 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$48K to the City of Glendale for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding95 households applied for aid$282K aid approved$42K to the City of Glendale for repairs13 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding97 households applied for aid$139K aid approved$18K to the City of Glendale for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$42K to the City of Glendale for repairs
Show all 8
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding10 households applied for aid$10K aid approved10 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Snow$23K to the City of Glendale for repairs
Milwaukee County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Glendale after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Glendale archive →Glendale and its neighbors
Glendale is 3rd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 1,369 |
| Fox Point | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Glendale | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 223 |
| Whitefish Bay | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| River Hills | Cmore damage than 68% | 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 Glendale 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.
- 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 Glendale
Is Glendale at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Glendale has lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #299 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%) and tornadoes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Glendale flood?
Flood insurance has paid 223 claims in Glendale since 1978, $2.0M in all, or 34.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 14 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from 2025-08-MilwaukeeMetro-Flood (70).
Is Glendale 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 Milwaukee County, 76% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Glendale?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Glendale’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 Glendale?
By FEMA money that reached Glendale, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Mudslides (2025): 215 households applied for aid, $1.5M approved. By flood claims, 2025-08-MilwaukeeMetro-Flood: 70 paid, $1.1M.
Is Glendale at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Glendale’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Glendale.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Glendale’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.