Photo: AviationTraveler · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Prairie du Chien as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Prairie du Chien gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #300 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%), then tornadoes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 42 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 Prairie du Chien’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Prairie du Chien 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 Prairie du Chien’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Prairie du Chien, and Prairie du Chien’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 11% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #300 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Prairie du Chien’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, Prairie du Chien has more expected damage per building than 83% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.7M a year in losses across Prairie du Chien: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Prairie du Chien flood? Sometimes: 42 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Prairie du Chien, from FEMA’s records: 16.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Severe flooding18 claims · $199K
- The March 2019 Midwest Flooding1 claim · $2K
Prairie du Chien isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Crawford County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Prairie du Chien
Disasters that paid out in Prairie du Chien itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Prairie du Chien), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud$74K to the City of Prairie du Chien for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$40K to the City of Prairie du Chien for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding6 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding15 households applied for aid$26K aid approved$23K to the City of Prairie du Chien for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding17 households applied for aid$25K aid approved$46K to the City of Prairie du Chien for repairs
Show all 7
- 2001Flooding, Severe Storms and Tornadoes$77K to the City of Prairie du Chien for repairs18 flood claims paid that year
Crawford County has had 19 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 Prairie du Chien after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Prairie du Chien archive →Prairie du Chien and its neighbors
Prairie du Chien has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie du Chien | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
| Bridgeport | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Prairie du Chien | — | 953 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 Prairie du Chien 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 Prairie du Chien
Is Prairie du Chien at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Prairie du Chien has lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #300 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and tornadoes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Prairie du Chien flood?
Flood insurance has paid 42 claims in Prairie du Chien since 1978, $300K in all, or 16.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Severe flooding (18).
Is Prairie du Chien 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 Crawford County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Prairie du Chien?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Prairie du Chien’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 Prairie du Chien?
By FEMA money that reached Prairie du Chien, Flooding, Severe Storms and Tornadoes (2001): $77K to the City of Prairie du Chien for repairs. By flood claims, Severe flooding: 18 paid, $199K.
Is Prairie du Chien at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Prairie du Chien’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Prairie du Chien.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Prairie du Chien’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.