Norwegian Buildings at Heg Park · Photo: William Garrett · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Norway as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Norway gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #305 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 20 claims here since 1999.
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 Norway 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 Norway’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Norway, and Norway’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #305 of 362 in Wisconsin; higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Norway’s residents live in 2 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, Norway has more expected damage per building than 84% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.0M a year in losses across Norway: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Norway flood? Sometimes: 20 flood claims since 1999
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Norway, from FEMA’s records: 5.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Storm9 claims · $116K
Norway isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Racine County.The storms Norway remembers
None of the 14 disasters declared for Racine County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Norway itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 200812 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared for Racine County
- 20073 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Racine County
- 20182 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Racine County has had 14 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 Norway after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Norway archive →Norway and its neighbors
Norway 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raymond | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Dover | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Muskego | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Norway | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Rochester | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Tichigan | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Waterford | — | not graded yet | |
| Wind Lake | — | 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 Norway 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 Norway
Is Norway at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Norway has higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #305 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 Norway flood?
Flood insurance has paid 20 claims in Norway since 1999, $257K in all, or 5.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Storm (9).
Is Norway 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 Racine County, 46% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Norway?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Norway’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 Norway?
By flood claims, Storm: 9 paid, $116K.
Is Norway at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Norway’s rate for it is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Norway.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Norway’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.