Photo: I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license: · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Rochester as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rochester gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #325 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2017.
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 Rochester 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 Rochester’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rochester, and Rochester’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #325 of 362 in Wisconsin; higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Rochester’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Wisconsin town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Rochester has more expected damage per building than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Rochester: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rochester flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2017
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rochester, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Rochester 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.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rochester
Disasters that paid out in Rochester itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Rochester), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$7K to the Village of Rochester for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding5 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$2K to the Village of Rochester for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$2K to the Village of Rochester for repairs
- 2000Snow$3K to the Village of Rochester for repairs
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 Rochester after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rochester archive →Rochester and its neighbors
Rochester is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Burlington | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Spring Prairie | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Norway | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Rochester | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Waterford | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Waterford | — | not graded yet | |
| Tichigan | — | 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 Rochester 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 Rochester
Is Rochester at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rochester has higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #325 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and tornadoes (8%). 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 Rochester flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Rochester since 2017, $19K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Rochester 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 Rochester?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rochester’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 Rochester?
By FEMA money that reached Rochester, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2011): $7K to the Village of Rochester for repairs.
Is Rochester at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Rochester’s rate for it is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rochester.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rochester’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.