On FEMA’s figures, Lake 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, Lake gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). 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 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 Lake’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lake, and Lake’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 5% (higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts).
B− higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lake’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Lake: $518K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lake flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Lake. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Lake isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Marinette County.The storms Lake remembers
None of the 4 disasters declared for Marinette County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Lake itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Marinette County has had 4 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.
Lake and its neighbors
Lake is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grover | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Beaver | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Stephenson | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Lake | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Porterfield | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Middle Inlet | — | 926 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Wagner | — | 651 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 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 Lake
Is Lake at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake has higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and tornadoes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Lake 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 Marinette County, 0.3% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Lake?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lake’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Lake at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Lake’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lake.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lake’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.