Wisconsin Flood Zones
Wisconsin faces riverine flooding from the Mississippi, Wisconsin, Fox, and Chippewa rivers, flash flooding from intense rainfall, and coastal flooding along the Great Lakes. Climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme rainfall events that overwhelm river systems and urban drainage.
2 of 72 Wisconsin counties are rated high or very high for inland flood risk by FEMA's National Risk Index. 12 communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System, qualifying residents for flood insurance discounts of up to 25%.
FEMA Region
Region 5
Also covers Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, +2 more
NFIP Policies
14,000
Wisconsin Flood Risk Overview
County-level risk ratings from FEMA's National Risk Index across 72 Wisconsin counties.
Inland Flood Risk
2 of 72 counties rated high or very high
Coastal Flood Risk
0 of 15 coastal counties rated high or very high
Hurricane Risk
0 of 34 counties rated high or very high
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment.
Federal Flood Disaster History
Wisconsin has received 21 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
2020s
2
2010s
4
2000s
2
1990s
4
1980s
4
1970s
3
1960s
2
Recent Declarations
Showing 8 most recent of 21 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Wisconsin properties have filed 9,296 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $132.8M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $14K.
Claims by Decade
2020s
738
2010s
2,106
2000s
2,624
1990s
2,446
1980s
905
1970s
477
Highest-Claim Years
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone A
3,338
Zone AE
2,739
Zone X
2,618
Zone AH
54
Zone AO
9
Zone V
3
Zone D
1
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Flood Insurance Discounts in Wisconsin
12 Wisconsin communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), earning flood insurance premium discounts for residents in Special Flood Hazard Areas. CRS classes in Wisconsin range from 5 to 9, with discounts from 5% to 25%.
Elm Grove
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 6 - 20% discount
Reedsburg
Class 6 - 20% discount
New Berlin
Class 6 - 20% discount
Allouez
Class 6 - 20% discount
Watertown
Class 7 - 15% discount
Fond Du Lac
Class 7 - 15% discount
Evansville
Class 7 - 15% discount
Suamico
Class 7 - 15% discount
Mazomanie, Village Of
Class 8 - 10% discount
Waupun
Class 8 - 10% discount
Class 9 - 5% discount
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Look Up Any Wisconsin Address
Enter a WI address to instantly check its FEMA flood zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Free Flood Zone LookupWisconsin Cities
Explore flood zone information for major cities in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Flood Zone FAQ
How do I check if my Wisconsin property is in a flood zone?
Enter your WI address in FludZone's free lookup tool. We query FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer in real-time to show your flood zone designation, whether flood insurance is required, and your property's risk level.
Do I need flood insurance in Wisconsin?
If your Wisconsin property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), meaning zones starting with A or V, and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not subject to the federal mandate but lenders may still require coverage, and it is often recommended given Wisconsin's flood history.
What are the most common flood zones in Wisconsin?
The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Wisconsin are Zone AE, Zone A, Zone X. Each zone reflects a different level of flood risk, from high-risk areas where flood insurance is generally required for federally regulated or government-backed mortgages to lower-risk areas where coverage is optional but recommended.
Can I remove my Wisconsin property from a flood zone?
Yes, if your Wisconsin property's natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in the SFHA, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) through FEMA. For properties in Wisconsin's AE and A zones, the LOMA process is relatively straightforward when the elevation data supports it. If your property was raised above the BFE with fill, the process is a LOMR-F. A successful LOMA generally removes the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement, but your lender may still choose to require coverage. You'll need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor.
Do any Wisconsin communities offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes, 12 Wisconsin communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for exceeding minimum flood mitigation standards. Residents in participating communities can receive NFIP premium discounts of up to 25% in the Special Flood Hazard Area. Properties outside the SFHA also benefit: CRS classes 1 through 6 receive a 10% discount, and classes 7 through 9 receive a 5% discount on NFIP premiums. Check your city's page on FludZone to see if your community participates.
Sources
This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerDirect Source
The NFHL is the source of all flood zone data shown on this page.
- FEMA Map Service Center — Search by AddressDirect Source
Look up any address to view FIRM panels, FIS reports, and LOMCs.
- NFHL Data and Map StatusTopic Page
View NFHL coverage and data freshness by state and community.
- FEMA National Risk Index — Data ResourcesDirect Source
County-level risk scores for inland flooding, coastal flooding, and hurricane used in the Flood Risk Profile.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API v2Direct Source
Federal disaster declarations filtered for flood-related incident types (Flood, Hurricane, Severe Storm, Coastal Storm).
- OpenFEMA FIMA NFIP Claims API v2Direct Source
Historical NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, aggregated by county and state. Includes claim counts, payouts, and flood zone breakdowns.
Sources last verified: February 2026
Understanding Flood Zones
Learn more about the FEMA flood zone designations common in Wisconsin.