Less hazard damage per building is expected in Somerset than in 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Somerset gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #218 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%), then tornadoes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2023.
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 Somerset 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
Strong wind
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 Somerset’s grade
River and rain flooding is 65% of the building damage FEMA expects in Somerset, and Somerset’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 11%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #218 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Somerset’s residents live in 2 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, Somerset has more expected damage per building than 60% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Somerset: $972K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Somerset flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2023
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Somerset, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Somerset isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: St. Croix County.The storms Somerset remembers
None of the 8 disasters declared for St. Croix County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Somerset itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20231 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
St. Croix County has had 8 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 Somerset after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Somerset archive →Somerset and its neighbors
Somerset is 3rd of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmington | A−less damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Somerset | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Somerset | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Star Prairie | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | — |
| St. Joseph | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Stillwater Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| May Township | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Stillwater | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Marine on St. Croix | — | 740 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Houlton | — | 240 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 Somerset 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.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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 Somerset
Is Somerset at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Somerset has lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #218 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%) and tornadoes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Somerset flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Somerset since 2023, $13K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Somerset 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 St. Croix County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Somerset?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Somerset’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Somerset at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (65%), and Somerset’s rate for it is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Somerset.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Somerset’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.