Greendale Historic District · Photo: Freekee · CC0On FEMA’s figures, Greendale faces less hazard damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greendale gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #77 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%), then tornadoes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1997.
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 Greendale 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 Greendale’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Greendale, and Greendale’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 12% (higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts).
A #77 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Greendale’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, Greendale has less expected damage per building than 79% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.4M a year in losses across Greendale: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Greendale flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1997
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Greendale, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2025-08-MilwaukeeMetro-Flood2 claims · $67K
- The Storm1 claim · $2K
Greendale 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 Greendale
Disasters that paid out in Greendale itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Greendale), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding16 households applied for aid$46K aid approved
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Mudslides174 households applied for aid$921K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$49K to the Village of Greendale for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding11 households applied for aid$46K aid approved$16K to the Village of Greendale for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding135 households applied for aid$297K aid approved$159K to the Village of Greendale for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$31K to the Village of Greendale for repairs
Show all 8
- 2000Snow$17K to the Village of Greendale for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$30K to the Village of Greendale 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 Greendale after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Greendale archive →Greendale and its neighbors
Greendale is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Hales Corners | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Greenfield | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Greendale | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
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 Greendale 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 Greendale
Is Greendale at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greendale has lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #77 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and tornadoes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Greendale flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Greendale since 1997, $93K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from 2025-08-MilwaukeeMetro-Flood (2).
Is Greendale 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 Greendale?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Greendale’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 Greendale?
By FEMA money that reached Greendale, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Mudslides (2025): 174 households applied for aid, $921K approved. By flood claims, 2025-08-MilwaukeeMetro-Flood: 2 paid, $67K.
Is Greendale at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Greendale’s rate for it is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Greendale.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Greendale’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.