Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Marinette faces less hazard damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marinette gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #217 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2002.
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 Marinette 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 Marinette’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Marinette, and Marinette’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 6% (higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #217 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Marinette’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, Marinette has more expected damage per building than 60% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.3M a year in losses across Marinette: $2.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Marinette flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2002
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Marinette, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Marinette 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.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Marinette
Disasters that paid out in Marinette itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Marinette), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$77K to the City of Marinette for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms and Flooding$626K to the City of Marinette for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
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.
Old photos of Marinette after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Marinette archive →Marinette and its neighbors
Marinette is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menominee | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Peshtigo | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Marinette | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Porterfield | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
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 Marinette 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 Marinette
Is Marinette at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marinette has lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #217 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and tornadoes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Marinette flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Marinette since 2002, $7K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Marinette 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 Marinette?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Marinette’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 Marinette?
By FEMA money that reached Marinette, Severe Storms and Flooding (2002): $626K to the City of Marinette for repairs.
Is Marinette at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Marinette’s rate for it is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Marinette.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Marinette’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.