Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Wabeno than in 87% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wabeno gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). 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 Wabeno 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
Hail
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 Wabeno’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wabeno, and Wabeno’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hail at 7% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
A lower expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Wabeno’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Wabeno: $288K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wabeno flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Wabeno. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Wabeno isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Forest County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Wabeno
Disasters that paid out in Wabeno itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Wabeno), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$3K to the Town of Wabeno for repairs
Forest County has had 4 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 Wabeno after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wabeno archive →Wabeno and its neighbors
Wabeno is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laona | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Wabeno | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Townsend | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Blackwell | — | 260 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Silver Cliff | — | 528 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Freedom | — | 462 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Lakewood | — | 787 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 Wabeno 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.
- 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.
- 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 Wabeno
Is Wabeno at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wabeno has lower expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hail (7%). 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.
Is Wabeno 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 Forest County, 5% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wabeno?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wabeno’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 Wabeno?
By FEMA money that reached Wabeno, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2000): $3K to the Town of Wabeno for repairs.
Is Wabeno at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Wabeno’s rate for it is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wabeno.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wabeno’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.