On FEMA’s figures, Winter faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Winter gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2023.
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 Winter 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
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 Winter’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Winter, and Winter’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Winter’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Winter: $447K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Winter flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2023
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Winter, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Winter isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sawyer County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Winter
Disasters that paid out in Winter itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Winter), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$12K to the Town of Winter for repairs
Sawyer County has had 6 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 Winter after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Winter archive →Winter and its neighbors
Winter has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Round Lake | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Draper | — | 230 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Ojibwa | — | 249 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Flambeau | — | 474 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Big Falls | — | 124 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Meadowbrook | — | 166 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| South Fork | — | 142 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Radisson | — | 535 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Hunter | — | 902 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Cedar Rapids | — | 15 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 Winter 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.
- 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 Winter
Is Winter at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Winter has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Winter flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Winter since 2023, $55K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Winter 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 Sawyer County, 0.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Winter?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Winter’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 Winter?
By FEMA money that reached Winter, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2000): $12K to the Town of Winter for repairs.
Is Winter at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Winter’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Winter.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Winter’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.