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Main Street Commercial Historic DistrictPhoto: James Steakley · CC BY-SA 3.0
C−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Jefferson · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Jefferson faces more hazard damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Jefferson gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #350 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 30 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 85%Tornadoes 8%Hail 6%

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

more than 77%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#350 of 362 in Wisconsin
Hazard risk
C−#350 of 362
in Wisconsin · higher than 77% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
85% of expected building damage
Flood claims
30
paid since 1979 · $1.9M
Flooded more than once
1
properties
Disasters paid out here
5
of 11 declared for Jefferson County

What stands out about Jefferson’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Moved out of harm’s way3 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 200823 flood claims were paid for 2008 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Jefferson 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

85%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

8%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts

Hail

6%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Strong wind Earthquakes Lightning Hurricanes Wildfire Winter storms Ice storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 11% of Jefferson’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Jefferson’s grade

River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Jefferson, and Jefferson’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Jefferson sits
Jefferson
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C− #350 of 362 in Wisconsin; higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Jefferson’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding85%Tornadoes8%Hail6%Everything else2%

The typical Wisconsin town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Jefferson has more expected damage per building than 97% of Wisconsin towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.2M a year in losses across Jefferson: $4.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Jefferson covers 3 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Jefferson flood? Sometimes: 30 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Jefferson, from FEMA’s records: 8.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 1 claim1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 2 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 1 claim1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 1 claim1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 1 claim2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 23 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 1 claim2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims197919822008
19792026
Biggest named events
  • The Storm11 claims · $427K
30
paid claims since 1979
$1.9M
paid to owners
1
homes flooded more than once
$64K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Jefferson isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Jefferson County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
3flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Jefferson

Disasters that paid out in Jefferson itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Jefferson), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
  2. 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding164 households applied for aid$443K aid approved$399K to the City of Jefferson for repairs
  3. 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$15K to the City of Jefferson for repairs
  4. 2007Severe Storms and Flooding25 households applied for aid$21K aid approved
  5. 2004Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$6K to the City of Jefferson for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in JeffersonJefferson County only

Jefferson County has had 11 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Jefferson after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Jefferson archive →
Next door

Jefferson and its neighbors

Jefferson is 3rd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Aztalan: hazard risk BJefferson: hazard risk BAztalanJeffersonJefferson
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
AztalanBless damage than 62%river and rain flooding—
JeffersonBless damage than 58%river and rain flooding—
JeffersonC−more damage than 77%river and rain flooding30

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Jefferson faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hail
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Jefferson

Is Jefferson at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Jefferson has higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #350 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Jefferson flood?

Flood insurance has paid 30 claims in Jefferson since 1979, $1.9M in all, or 8.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Storm (11).

Is Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Jefferson?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Jefferson’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 Jefferson?

By FEMA money that reached Jefferson, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2008): 164 households applied for aid, $443K approved, and $399K to the City of Jefferson for repairs. By flood claims, Storm: 11 paid, $427K.

Is Jefferson at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Jefferson’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Jefferson.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Jefferson’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.