Photo: Freekee · Public domainFEMA puts Mequon’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mequon gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #197 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 128 claims here since 1979.
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 stands out about Mequon’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Mequon 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 Mequon’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mequon, and Mequon’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 7% (higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #197 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mequon’s residents live in 5 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, Mequon has more expected damage per building than 54% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.7M a year in losses across Mequon: $7.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mequon flood? Yes: 128 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mequon, from FEMA’s records: 12.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Storm37 claims · $880K
- The 2025-08-MilwaukeeMetro-Flood17 claims · $366K
- The March 2019 Midwest Flooding6 claims · $85K
Mequon isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Ozaukee County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Mequon
Disasters that paid out in Mequon itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Mequon), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding97 households applied for aid$193K aid approved$445K to the City of Mequon for repairs46 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding21 households applied for aid$41K aid approved$20K to the City of Mequon for repairs14 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Snow$37K to the City of Mequon for repairs
Ozaukee County has had 10 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 Mequon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mequon archive →Mequon and its neighbors
Mequon is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bayside | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Cedarburg | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Cedarburg | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Milwaukee | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 1,369 |
| Mequon | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 128 |
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 Mequon 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 Mequon
Is Mequon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mequon has lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #197 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and tornadoes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Mequon flood?
Flood insurance has paid 128 claims in Mequon since 1979, $1.8M in all, or 12.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 16 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Storm (37).
Is Mequon 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 Ozaukee County, 45% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Mequon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mequon’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 Mequon?
By FEMA money that reached Mequon, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2008): 97 households applied for aid, $193K approved, and $445K to the City of Mequon for repairs. By flood claims, Storm: 37 paid, $880K.
Is Mequon at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Mequon’s rate for it is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mequon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mequon’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.