FEMA puts Stockton’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Stockton gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #136 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%), then tornadoes (15%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Stockton 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
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 Stockton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in Stockton, and Stockton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 15% (higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts).
A #136 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Stockton’s residents live in 5 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, Stockton has less expected damage per building than 63% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Stockton: $717K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Stockton flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Stockton. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Stockton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Portage County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Stockton
Disasters that paid out in Stockton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Stockton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$233K to the Town of Stockton for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms and Flooding$12K to the Town of Stockton for repairs
- 2001Flooding, Severe Storms and Tornadoes$8K to the Town of Stockton for repairs
Portage County has had 9 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 Stockton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Stockton archive →Stockton and its neighbors
Stockton is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Stockton | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Sharon | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Buena Vista | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Plover | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Stevens Point | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| New Hope | — | 664 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Polonia | — | 776 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 Stockton 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.
- 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 Stockton
Is Stockton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Stockton has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #136 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%) and tornadoes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Stockton 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 Portage County, 9% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Stockton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Stockton’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 Stockton?
By FEMA money that reached Stockton, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2019): $233K to the Town of Stockton for repairs.
Is Stockton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and Stockton’s rate for it is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Stockton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Stockton’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.