Bridge No. 4 · Photo: Martin Stupich · Public domainLess hazard damage per building is expected in Holland than in 69% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Holland gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns, #234 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then hail (13%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Holland 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
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 Holland’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Holland, and Holland’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 13%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #234 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Holland’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, Holland has more expected damage per building than 65% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Holland: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Holland flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Holland. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Holland isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: La Crosse County.The storms Holland remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for La Crosse County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Holland itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
La Crosse County has had 15 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.
Holland and its neighbors
Holland has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holland | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Holmen | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Onalaska | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Gale | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Farmington | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Caledonia | — | 912 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Richmond Township | — | 478 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 Holland 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.
- 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 Holland
Is Holland at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Holland has lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #234 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and hail (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Holland 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 La Crosse County, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Holland?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Holland’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Holland at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Holland’s rate for it is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Holland.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Holland’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.