Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Wausau than in 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wausau gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #229 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1979.
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 stands out about Wausau’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Wausau 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 Wausau’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wausau, and Wausau’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Lightning adds 2%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #229 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wausau’s residents live in 13 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, Wausau has more expected damage per building than 63% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $18.1M a year in losses across Wausau: $8.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wausau flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wausau, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Wausau isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Marathon County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wausau
Disasters that paid out in Wausau itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Wausau), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding12 households applied for aid$44K aid approved
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$13K to the City of Wausau for repairs
Marathon 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 Wausau after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wausau archive →Wausau and its neighbors
Wausau is 5th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Maine | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Schofield | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Wausau | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Wausau | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Stettin | B−less damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Rib Mountain | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Weston | — | 780 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 Wausau 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 Wausau
Is Wausau at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wausau has lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #229 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and tornadoes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wausau flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Wausau since 1979, $26K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Wausau 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 Marathon County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wausau?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wausau’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 Wausau?
By FEMA money that reached Wausau, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2026): 12 households applied for aid, $44K approved.
Is Wausau at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Wausau’s rate for it is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wausau.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wausau’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.