Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Milton faces more hazard damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Milton gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #336 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%), then tornadoes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2010.
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 Milton 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 Milton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Milton, and Milton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 11% (higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #336 of 362 in Wisconsin; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Milton’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, Milton has more expected damage per building than 93% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Milton: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Milton flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2010
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Milton, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Milton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Rock County.The storms Milton remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for Rock County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Milton itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20101 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Rock County has had 13 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 Milton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Milton archive →Milton and its neighbors
Milton is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lima | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Milton | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Koshkonong | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Harmony | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Milton | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Fulton | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 49 |
| Lake Koshkonong | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Milton 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 Milton
Is Milton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Milton has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #336 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and tornadoes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Milton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Milton since 2010, $12K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Milton 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 Rock County, 33% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Milton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Milton’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Milton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Milton’s rate for it is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Milton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Milton’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.