Photo: Doremo · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Porterfield faces more hazard damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Porterfield gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2026.
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 Porterfield 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
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 Porterfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Porterfield, and Porterfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Porterfield’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Porterfield: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Porterfield flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2026
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Porterfield, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2026-04-Flooding1 claim · $5K
Porterfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Marinette County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Porterfield
Disasters that paid out in Porterfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Porterfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2002Severe Storms and Flooding$11K to the Town of Porterfield for repairs
Marinette County has had 4 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 Porterfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Porterfield archive →Porterfield and its neighbors
Porterfield is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menominee Township | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Peshtigo | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Marinette | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Grover | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Lake | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Porterfield | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Wagner | — | 651 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Porterfield 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.
- 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 Porterfield
Is Porterfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Porterfield has higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Porterfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Porterfield since 2026, $5K in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from 2026-04-Flooding (1).
Is Porterfield 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 Marinette County, 0.3% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Porterfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Porterfield’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 Porterfield?
By FEMA money that reached Porterfield, Severe Storms and Flooding (2002): $11K to the Town of Porterfield for repairs. By flood claims, 2026-04-Flooding: 1 paid, $5K.
Is Porterfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Porterfield’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Porterfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Porterfield’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.