Dr. Fisk Holbrook Day House · Photo: Freekee at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Wauwatosa than in 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wauwatosa gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #149 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 117 claims here since 1983.
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 Wauwatosa’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Wauwatosa 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 Wauwatosa’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wauwatosa, and Wauwatosa’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #149 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wauwatosa’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, Wauwatosa has less expected damage per building than 59% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $19.5M a year in losses across Wauwatosa: $7.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wauwatosa flood? Yes: 117 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wauwatosa, from FEMA’s records: 5.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2025-08-MilwaukeeMetro-Flood17 claims · $3.5M
- The Storm7 claims · $67K
- The 2026-04-Flooding1 claim · $52K
Wauwatosa isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Milwaukee County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wauwatosa
Disasters that paid out in Wauwatosa itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Wauwatosa), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding41 households applied for aid$93K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Mudslides224 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved17 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$70K to the City of Wauwatosa for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding137 households applied for aid$293K aid approved$27K to the City of Wauwatosa for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding194 households applied for aid$254K aid approved$77K to the City of Wauwatosa for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$59K to the City of Wauwatosa for repairs
Show all 8
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2000Snow$45K to the City of Wauwatosa for repairs
Milwaukee County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Wauwatosa after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wauwatosa archive →Wauwatosa and its neighbors
Wauwatosa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brookfield | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 52 |
| Wauwatosa | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 117 |
| Milwaukee | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 1,369 |
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 Wauwatosa 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 Wauwatosa
Is Wauwatosa at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wauwatosa has lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #149 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wauwatosa flood?
Flood insurance has paid 117 claims in Wauwatosa since 1983, $6.8M in all, or 5.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from 2025-08-MilwaukeeMetro-Flood (17).
Is Wauwatosa 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 Milwaukee County, 76% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wauwatosa?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wauwatosa’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 Wauwatosa?
By FEMA money that reached Wauwatosa, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Mudslides (2025): 224 households applied for aid, $1.5M approved. By flood claims, 2025-08-MilwaukeeMetro-Flood: 17 paid, $3.5M.
Is Wauwatosa at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Wauwatosa’s rate for it is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wauwatosa.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wauwatosa’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.