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Natural hazard risk in Washington County, Wisconsin

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Low (score 68.3 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$48.4 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1976
12[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$1.2 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
20[4]

FEMA rates the overall natural hazard risk for Washington County, Wisconsin as Relatively Low compared with other US counties[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores within the county are cold wave, hail and tornado[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) gives the county a Risk Index score of 68.3 out of 100 compared with all US counties[5]. FEMA estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards at $48.4 million a year[1]. This is an estimate of average yearly loss, not money anyone paid[7]. By FEMA's estimate, the largest shares come from inland flooding ($20.0 million a year), cold wave ($13.0 million a year) and tornado ($8.8 million a year)[8]. FEMA rates social vulnerability Very Low[9] and community resilience Very High[10]. FEMA says its index does not predict next year's losses[7].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
Cold WaveRelatively High$13.0 million[11]
HailRelatively Moderate$2.4 million[12]
TornadoRelatively Moderate$8.8 million[13]
Heat WaveRelatively Low$1.8 million[14]
Inland FloodingRelatively Low$20.0 million[15]
Winter WeatherRelatively Moderate$183,000[16]
LandslideVery Low$5,160[17]
LightningRelatively Moderate$577,000[18]
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$1.2 million[19]
WildfireVery Low$80,000[20]
Ice StormRelatively Low$68,000[21]
DroughtRelatively Low$61,000[22]
EarthquakeVery Low$169,000[23]
HurricaneVery Low$2,824[24]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity[25].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityVery Low10.6[9]
Community resilienceVery High96.8[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively Low for Washington County, with an Expected Annual Loss rating of Relatively Moderate[15]. OpenFEMA lists 240 residential flood insurance contracts in force as of 2026-08-03[26]. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, there were 172 flood insurance contracts for 462 residential structures, a rate of 37.2%[26]. OpenFEMA NFIP claims data shows 78 claims filed for losses from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $1.2 million in total[3]. The years with the most paid claims were 2008 (21), 2025 (5) and 1993 (3)[3]. To learn the flood zone of an address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[27].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[15] Relatively Low, $20.0 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[26] 240 of 38,738 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[26] 462, of which 172 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 78 filed, $1.2 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[27]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 12 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Washington County since 1976[2]. By incident type, flood and severe storm have 4 each[2]. The most recent listed is DR-4923-WI, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding, declared 2026-06-30[28]. NOAA's tornado database records 20 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2018-05-09[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Washington County, since 1976
Incident type Declarations
Flood[2] 4
Severe Storm[2] 4
Snowstorm[2] 2
Drought[2] 1
Hurricane[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
DR-4923-WI[28] Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding 2026-06-30
DR-4892-WI[28] Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Mudslides 2025-09-11
DR-1966-WI[28] Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm 2011-04-05
DR-1768-WI[28] Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding 2008-06-14
EM-3285-WI[28] Record Snow And Near Record Snow 2008-03-19

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Winter storms and cold

Before

  • Insulate your home and learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
  • Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup.
  • Keep several days of supplies in case the power goes out, including medication and pet needs.
  • Put an emergency kit in your car with jumper cables, sand, blankets, water and snacks, and keep the tank full.

During

  • Under a winter storm warning, find shelter right away.
  • Stay off the roads if you can. If you are stuck in your car, stay inside it.
  • Run generators and grills only outdoors, away from windows, and never heat your home with an oven or stove.

Source: Ready.gov, winter storms and cold

Tornadoes

Before

  • Learn the warning signs: a rotating funnel cloud, an approaching cloud of debris or a loud roar like a freight train.
  • Sign up for community warning systems and learn what your local sirens sound like.
  • Pick a safe spot, such as a safe room built to FEMA criteria or an ICC 500 storm shelter, and practice getting there.
  • Include your pets in the household emergency plan.
  • Keep supplies, food, water and medication in case you have to stay home for a long time.

During

  • Go right away to the safe place you picked in advance.
  • Protect your head and neck with your arms and stay away from windows, doors and outside walls.
  • No place in a car is fully safe. If you can get lower than the road, leave the car and lie down there.

Source: Ready.gov, tornadoes

Extreme heat

Before

  • Learn the signs of heat illness and how to respond.
  • Do not rely on a fan as your main way to stay cool. Fans do not lower body temperature.
  • Find cool public places, such as libraries or malls, or ask your local health department.
  • Keep heat out with window shades, weather stripping and insulation.
  • If you cannot afford cooling costs, contact LIHEAP for help.

During

  • Never leave a person or an animal in a parked car in warm weather.
  • If your home has no air conditioning, go to a cooling center.
  • Wear light, loose clothing, drink plenty of fluids and avoid hard outdoor work in the middle of the day.

Source: Ready.gov, extreme heat

Questions people ask

Is Washington County, WI at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively Low for the county, with an Expected Annual Loss rating of Relatively Moderate[15]. FEMA lists inland flooding as the largest part of expected annual loss at $20.0 million a year[8].
Does Washington County, WI get tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 20 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties[13].
Is Washington County, WI at risk of earthquakes or hurricanes?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Very Low[23] and hurricane risk Very Low compared with other US counties[24].
How many disasters were declared in Washington County, WI?
OpenFEMA lists 12 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include the county since 1976[2].
How do I check the flood zone of an address?
Look up the address in FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[27].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Washington County is $48.4 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively Low, score 83.1). Of this, buildings account for $27.1 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $20.9... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 12 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Washington County since 1976 (9 major disaster, 3 emergency or fire management). By incident type: flood 4, severe storm 4, snowstorm 2, drought 1, hurricane 1. Biological (such as COVID-19) and other... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 78 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Washington County, 53 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $1.2 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid).... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 20 recorded tornadoes touched Washington County. The strongest were rated F4 (most recent of them on 1981-04-04). 2 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2018-05-09. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Washington County is Relatively Low, with a Risk Index score of 68.3 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Washington County are cold wave (90.2, Relatively High), hail (86.5, Relatively Moderate), tornado (84.0, Relatively Moderate). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  8. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Washington County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($20.0 million a year), cold wave ($13.0 million a year), tornado ($8.8 million a year), out of $48.4 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Washington County is Very Low (score 10.6). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Washington County is Very High (score 96.8). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 90.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $13.0 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 5.42 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 86.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.4 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 3.2 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 84.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $8.8 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.28 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 71.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.8 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 2.74 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 66.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $20.0 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.61 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record... FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 63.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $183,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 15.68 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of... FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Washington County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 61.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $5,160 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 59.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $577,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 33.91 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24... FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 58.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.2 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 3.43 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of... FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Washington County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 49.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $80,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0002 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 33.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $68,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.48 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 33.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $61,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.55 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Washington County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 32.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $169,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0006 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Washington County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 9.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2,824 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.01 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172 years for the Atlantic... FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Washington County: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  26. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 240 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Washington County, out of 38,738 residential structures, a penetration rate of 0.6%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 462 residential structures and 172 contracts, a... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  27. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  28. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.