Photo: Arnmhs · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Menasha 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, Menasha gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #314 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1978.
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 Menasha 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 Menasha’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Menasha, and Menasha’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #314 of 362 in Wisconsin; higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Menasha’s residents live in 9 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, Menasha has more expected damage per building than 87% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.3M a year in losses across Menasha: $4.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Menasha flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Menasha, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Menasha isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Winnebago County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Menasha
Disasters that paid out in Menasha itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Menasha), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding56 households applied for aid$199K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding16 households applied for aid$19K aid approved$10K to the City of Menasha for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$12K aid approved$1K to the City of Menasha for repairs
- 2001Flooding, Severe Storms and Tornadoes$182K to the City of Menasha for repairs
Winnebago County has had 8 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 Menasha after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Menasha archive →Menasha and its neighbors
Menasha 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Harrison | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Fox Crossing | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Menasha | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Neenah | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Harrison | — | 0 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 Menasha 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 Menasha
Is Menasha at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Menasha has higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #314 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Menasha flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Menasha since 1978, $8K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Menasha 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 Winnebago County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Menasha?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Menasha’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 Menasha?
By FEMA money that reached Menasha, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2026): 56 households applied for aid, $199K approved.
Is Menasha at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Menasha’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Menasha.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Menasha’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.