Photo: Bfkenney · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Milwaukee’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 78% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Milwaukee gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, #183 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 1,369 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 stands out about Milwaukee’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Milwaukee, and Milwaukee’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #183 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Milwaukee’s residents live in 210 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, Milwaukee has more expected damage per building than 50% of Wisconsin towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Milwaukee has lower expected damage per building than 88% (#49 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $204M, is the 41th largest of those 400.
Does Milwaukee flood? Yes: 1,369 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Milwaukee, from FEMA’s records: 5.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2025-08-MilwaukeeMetro-Flood115 claims · $4.2M
- The Storm31 claims · $199K
- The 2026-04-Flooding6 claims · $113K
Milwaukee isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Milwaukee County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Milwaukee
Disasters that paid out in Milwaukee itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Milwaukee), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding27,310 households applied for aid$64.8M aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Mudslides39,300 households applied for aid$177M aid approved115 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$51K to the City of Milwaukee for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding31,176 households applied for aid$58.4M aid approved$2.9M to the City of Milwaukee for repairs151 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding16,365 households applied for aid$13.9M aid approved$1.5M to the City of Milwaukee for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$940K to the City of Milwaukee for repairs
Show all 9
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding4,364 households applied for aid$2.8M aid approved7 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Snow$803K to the City of Milwaukee for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$35K to the City of Milwaukee for repairs
Milwaukee County has had 19 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 Milwaukee after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Milwaukee archive →Milwaukee and its neighbors
Milwaukee is 8th of the 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Milwaukee | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| St. Francis | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | — |
| West Allis | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Oak Creek | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Greenfield | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Wauwatosa | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 117 |
| Menomonee Falls | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Milwaukee | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 1,369 |
| Brown Deer | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Shorewood | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Glendale | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 223 |
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 Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee
Is Milwaukee at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Milwaukee has lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #183 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Milwaukee flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,369 claims in Milwaukee since 1978, $14.9M in all, or 5.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 231 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from 2025-08-MilwaukeeMetro-Flood (115).
Is Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee County, 76% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Milwaukee?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Milwaukee’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 Milwaukee?
By FEMA money that reached Milwaukee, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Mudslides (2025): 39,300 households applied for aid, $177M approved. By flood claims, 2025-08-MilwaukeeMetro-Flood: 115 paid, $4.2M.
Is Milwaukee at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Milwaukee’s rate for it is lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Milwaukee.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Milwaukee’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.