Photo: Gnome70 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Whitefish Bay as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Whitefish Bay gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #318 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 2010.
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 Whitefish Bay 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 Whitefish Bay’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Whitefish Bay, and Whitefish Bay’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 5% (higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #318 of 362 in Wisconsin; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Whitefish Bay’s residents live in 3 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, Whitefish Bay has more expected damage per building than 88% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.3M a year in losses across Whitefish Bay: $2.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Whitefish Bay flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 2010
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Whitefish Bay, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Whitefish Bay 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 Whitefish Bay
Disasters that paid out in Whitefish Bay itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Whitefish Bay), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, and Mudslides24 households applied for aid$78K aid approved
- 2020Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$218K to the Village of Whitefish Bay for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$15K to the Village of Whitefish Bay for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding307 households applied for aid$743K aid approved$173K to the Village of Whitefish Bay for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding32 households applied for aid$39K aid approved$108K to the Village of Whitefish Bay for repairs
Show all 8
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$12K to the Village of Whitefish Bay for repairs
- 2000Snow$11K to the Village of Whitefish Bay 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 Whitefish Bay after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Whitefish Bay archive →Whitefish Bay and its neighbors
Whitefish Bay is 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 1,369 |
| Fox Point | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Shorewood | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Glendale | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 223 |
| Whitefish Bay | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
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 Whitefish Bay 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 Whitefish Bay
Is Whitefish Bay at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Whitefish Bay has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #318 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%) and tornadoes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Whitefish Bay flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Whitefish Bay since 2010, $99K in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Whitefish Bay 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 Whitefish Bay?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Whitefish Bay’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 Whitefish Bay?
By FEMA money that reached Whitefish Bay, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2010): 307 households applied for aid, $743K approved, and $173K to the Village of Whitefish Bay for repairs.
Is Whitefish Bay at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Whitefish Bay’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Whitefish Bay.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Whitefish Bay’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.