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Monroe WIPhoto: SD Dirk · CC BY 2.0
AHazard risk
Natural hazards in Monroe · FEMA

FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Monroe than in 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Monroe gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #54 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%), then tornadoes (21%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.

River and rain flooding 50%Tornadoes 21%Hail 21%

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

less than 95%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#54 of 362 in Wisconsin
Hazard risk
A#54 of 362
in Wisconsin · lower than 95% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
50% of expected building damage
Flood claims
0
paid since 1978 · $0
Disasters paid out here
5
of 14 declared for Green County

What stands out about Monroe’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Lower expected damage than 95% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Made safer with FEMA grants1 storm safe room built with FEMA grants.
By hazard

What Monroe 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

50%of expected building damage
Well below average · lower than 95% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

21%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts

Hail

21%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Strong wind

6%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 5 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Ice storms Lightning Hurricanes Wildfire Winter storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 35% of Monroe’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Monroe’s grade

River and rain flooding is 50% of the building damage FEMA expects in Monroe, and Monroe’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 95% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 21%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Monroe sits
Monroe
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A #54 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Monroe’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding50%Tornadoes21%Hail21%Everything else8%

The typical Wisconsin town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Monroe has less expected damage per building than 85% of Wisconsin towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.0M a year in losses across Monroe: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Monroe covers 3 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Monroe flood? No paid flood claims on record

FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Monroe. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.

of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Monroe isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Green County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
1storm safe room built
Disasters

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Monroe

Disasters that paid out in Monroe itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Monroe), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$29K to the City of Monroe for repairs
  2. 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding18 households applied for aid$21K aid approved$18K to the City of Monroe for repairs
  3. 2007Severe Storms and Flooding21 households applied for aid$38K aid approved
  4. 2000Snow$19K to the City of Monroe for repairs
  5. 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$10K to the City of Monroe for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in MonroeGreen County only

Green County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.

Were you here?

Old photos of Monroe after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Monroe archive →
Next door

Monroe and its neighbors

Monroe has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Monroe: hazard risk A−Clarno: hazard risk B+Sylvester: hazard risk B+MonroeClarnoSylvesterMonroe
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
MonroeAless damage than 95%river and rain flooding0
MonroeA−less damage than 80%river and rain flooding—
ClarnoB+less damage than 75%river and rain flooding—
SylvesterB+less damage than 75%river and rain flooding6

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Monroe faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hail
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
High winds
  • Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
  • Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
  • Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Monroe

Is Monroe at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Monroe has lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #54 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%) and tornadoes (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Is Monroe 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 Green County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Monroe?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Monroe’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 Monroe?

By FEMA money that reached Monroe, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2008): 18 households applied for aid, $21K approved, and $18K to the City of Monroe for repairs.

Is Monroe at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (50%), and Monroe’s rate for it is lower than 95% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Monroe.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Monroe’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.