Range Line Road Bridge · Photo: Freekee · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, River Hills faces more hazard damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, River Hills gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 16 claims here since 1979.
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 River Hills 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 River Hills’ grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in River Hills, and River Hills’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of River Hills’ residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across River Hills: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does River Hills flood? Sometimes: 16 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in River Hills, from FEMA’s records: 26.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2025-08-MilwaukeeMetro-Flood2 claims · $330K
- The March 2019 Midwest Flooding1 claim · $56K
- The Storm1 claim · $6K
River Hills isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Milwaukee County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to River Hills
Disasters that paid out in River Hills itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of River Hills), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Mudslides8 households applied for aid$56K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$16K to the Village of River Hills for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$31K aid approved$23K to the Village of River Hills for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding6 households applied for aid$36K aid approved$9K to the Village of River Hills for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$8K to the Village of River Hills for repairs
Show all 7
- 2000Snow$9K to the Village of River Hills for repairs
Milwaukee County has had 19 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 River Hills after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the River Hills archive →River Hills and its neighbors
River Hills is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bayside | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Fox Point | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Brown Deer | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Glendale | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 223 |
| River Hills | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
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 River Hills 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 River Hills
Is River Hills at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, River Hills has higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does River Hills flood?
Flood insurance has paid 16 claims in River Hills since 1979, $612K in all, or 26.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from 2025-08-MilwaukeeMetro-Flood (2).
Is River Hills 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 Milwaukee County, 76% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in River Hills?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for River Hills’ 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 River Hills?
By FEMA money that reached River Hills, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Mudslides (2025): 8 households applied for aid, $56K approved. By flood claims, 2025-08-MilwaukeeMetro-Flood: 2 paid, $330K.
Is River Hills at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and River Hills’ rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in River Hills.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where River Hills’ 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.