Less hazard damage per building is expected in Wheaton than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wheaton gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #237 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then tornadoes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1989.
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 Wheaton 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 Wheaton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wheaton, and Wheaton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 50% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 5%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #237 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wheaton’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, Wheaton has more expected damage per building than 65% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Wheaton: $737K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wheaton flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1989
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wheaton, from FEMA’s records: 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Wheaton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Chippewa County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wheaton
Disasters that paid out in Wheaton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Wheaton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$7K to the Town of Wheaton for repairs
- 2001Flooding, Severe Storms and Tornadoes$5K to the Town of Wheaton for repairs
Chippewa County has had 8 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 Wheaton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wheaton archive →Wheaton and its neighbors
Wheaton is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tilden | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Wheaton | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Union | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Chippewa Falls | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Eau Claire | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Lake Hallie | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Elk Mound | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Howard | — | 936 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 Wheaton 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 Wheaton
Is Wheaton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wheaton has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #237 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wheaton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Wheaton since 1989, $8K in all, or 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Wheaton 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 Chippewa County, 8% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wheaton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wheaton’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 Wheaton?
By FEMA money that reached Wheaton, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2016): $7K to the Town of Wheaton for repairs.
Is Wheaton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Wheaton’s rate for it is higher than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wheaton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wheaton’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.