Photo: Eli Wedel · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Lake Mills’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 79% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Mills gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then tornadoes (16%). 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 Lake Mills 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 Lake Mills’ grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lake Mills, and Lake Mills’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 16% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
A− lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lake Mills’ residents live in 5 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Lake Mills: $742K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lake Mills flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Lake Mills. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Lake Mills 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.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Lake Mills
Disasters that paid out in Lake Mills itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Lake Mills), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$9K to the Town of Lake Mills for repairs
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.
Old photos of Lake Mills after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lake Mills archive →Lake Mills and its neighbors
Lake Mills is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deerfield | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lake Mills | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lake Mills | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Oakland | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Milford | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Aztalan | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Waterloo | — | 934 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 Lake Mills 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Lake Mills
Is Lake Mills at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Mills has lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and tornadoes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Lake Mills 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 Lake Mills?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lake Mills’ 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 Lake Mills?
By FEMA money that reached Lake Mills, Record Snow and Near Record Snow (2008): $9K to the Town of Lake Mills for repairs.
Is Lake Mills at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Lake Mills’ rate for it is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lake Mills.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lake Mills’ 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.