Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Shawano faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shawano gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #279 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%), then tornadoes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2019.
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 Shawano 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 Shawano’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Shawano, and Shawano’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 13% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).
B #279 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Shawano’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, Shawano has more expected damage per building than 77% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.5M a year in losses across Shawano: $2.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Shawano flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2019
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Shawano, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2019 Midwest Flooding1 claim · $14K
Shawano isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Shawano County.The storms Shawano remembers
None of the 5 disasters declared for Shawano County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Shawano itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20191 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding, declared for Shawano County
Shawano County has had 5 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 Shawano after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Shawano archive →Shawano and its neighbors
Shawano is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waukechon | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Richmond | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Belle Plaine | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Shawano | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Wescott | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Shawano 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 Shawano
Is Shawano at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shawano has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #279 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and tornadoes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Shawano flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Shawano since 2019, $14K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from March 2019 Midwest Flooding (1).
Is Shawano 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 Shawano County, 0.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Shawano?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Shawano’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 Shawano?
By flood claims, March 2019 Midwest Flooding: 1 paid, $14K.
Is Shawano at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Shawano’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Shawano.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Shawano’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.