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ReedsburgWisconsinDowntownPhoto: User Royalbroil on en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 2.5
C+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Reedsburg · FEMA

FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Reedsburg as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Reedsburg gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #326 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 70 claims here since 1992.

River and rain flooding 82%Hail 9%Tornadoes 7%

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

more than 58%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#326 of 362 in Wisconsin
Hazard risk
C+#326 of 362
in Wisconsin · higher than 58% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
82% of expected building damage
Flood claims
70
paid since 1992 · $3.0M
Flooded more than once
2
properties
Flood insurance
15% off
Community discount (class 7)

What stands out about Reedsburg’s natural hazards

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

15% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Reedsburg residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7).Moved out of harm’s way50 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 201837 flood claims were paid for 2018 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Reedsburg 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

82%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Hail

9%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

Tornadoes

7%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Strong wind Lightning top 2% Earthquakes Hurricanes Wildfire Winter storms Ice 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 20% of Reedsburg’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 Reedsburg’s grade

River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Reedsburg, and Reedsburg’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 9%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Reedsburg sits
Reedsburg
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C+ #326 of 362 in Wisconsin; higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Reedsburg’s residents live in 5 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding82%Hail9%Tornadoes7%Everything else2%

The typical Wisconsin town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Reedsburg has more expected damage per building than 90% of Wisconsin towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.6M a year in losses across Reedsburg: $3.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Reedsburg covers 5 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 Reedsburg flood? Sometimes: 70 flood claims since 1992

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Reedsburg, from FEMA’s records: 16.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1992: 1 claim1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 3 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 28 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 1 claim2017: 0 claims2018: 37 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200020082018
19922026
Biggest named events
  • The Storm28 claims · $1.9M
70
paid claims since 1992
$3.0M
paid to owners
2
homes flooded more than once
$44K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount15% off flood insurance

Reedsburg is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Sauk County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
50flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Reedsburg

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

  1. 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides121 households applied for aid$282K aid approved$126K to the City of Reedsburg for repairs37 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding582 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$1.0M to the City of Reedsburg for repairs28 flood claims paid that year
  3. 2007Severe Storms and Flooding33 households applied for aid$32K aid approved
  4. 2004Severe Storms and Flooding22 households applied for aid$29K aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in ReedsburgSauk County only

Sauk County has had 12 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.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Reedsburg archive →
Next door

Reedsburg and its neighbors

Reedsburg is 2nd of the 2 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Reedsburg: hazard risk B−Winfield: not gradedReedsburgWinfieldReedsburg
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
ReedsburgB−more damage than 51%river and rain flooding11
ReedsburgC+more damage than 58%river and rain flooding70
Winfield—893 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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Reedsburg 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 ↗
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 ↗
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 ↗
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.
  • Reedsburg residents get 15% off flood insurance.
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 Reedsburg

Is Reedsburg at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Reedsburg has higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #326 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hail (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Reedsburg flood?

Flood insurance has paid 70 claims in Reedsburg since 1992, $3.0M in all, or 16.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Storm (28).

Is Reedsburg 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 Sauk County, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Reedsburg?

Reedsburg is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.

What was the biggest storm in Reedsburg?

By FEMA money that reached Reedsburg, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2008): 582 households applied for aid, $1.3M approved, and $1.0M to the City of Reedsburg for repairs. By flood claims, Storm: 28 paid, $1.9M.

Is Reedsburg at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Reedsburg’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Reedsburg.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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