Eau Claire, WI Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
Eau Claire faces flooding from the Chippewa River, Eau Claire River, and their tributaries. Spring snowmelt and heavy summer rainfall can cause significant flooding through the city.
Eau Claire County has recorded 58 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $504K in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.
FEMA Region
Region 5
NFIP Policies
116
Eau Claire County
Avg. Premium
$1,034/yr
Eau Claire County
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Eau Claire County
Properties in Eau Claire County have filed 58 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $504K in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $9K.
Highest-Claim Years
1993
19 claims - $188K
1982
8 claims - $11K
1980
6 claims - $15K
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Eau Claire County
Only roughly 1 in 360 households in Eau Claire County carries NFIP flood insurance (0.3% of estimated households). With 19 recorded flood events and $4.9M in damage, most flood losses in this county are likely uninsured.
Penetration Rate
0.3%
roughly 1 in 360 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 2
58 claims over 45+ years across 116 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$8,690
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Eau Claire County has averaged 1 claim for every 2 active policies (since 1978). This compares cumulative claims against today's policy count and does not predict future claim likelihood.
Coverage data: NFIP policies as of August 2026, claims since 1978 (August 2026), population from FEMA NRI. All figures are county-wide and include Eau Claire.
Not sure whether you're required to carry it? See do I need flood insurance?, or compare NFIP vs. private flood insurance.
Flood Insurance Discount: Eau Claire
Eau Claire participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for flood mitigation efforts beyond minimum NFIP requirements. Residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area may qualify for reduced flood insurance premiums.
CRS Class
Class 9
SFHA Premium Discount
5% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Eau Claire's Class 9 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 5% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 5% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, April 2026. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Eau Claire County
Eau Claire County has been included in 4 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
These declarations affected communities across Eau Claire County, including Eau Claire.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Eau Claire County
NOAA has recorded 19 flood events in Eau Claire County since 1996, causing $4.9M in damage and 1 death.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation: Eau Claire County
FEMA has funded mitigation for 173 properties in Eau Claire County, investing $4.0M in flood risk reduction. Common mitigation actions include acquisition (buying and demolishing flood-prone structures), elevation (raising buildings above flood level), and safe rooms (wind/storm shelters for tornado and hurricane protection).
By Action Type
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance. Data sourced August 2026. FEMA records a total payment per grant rather than per property, so the dollar figure is an estimate that splits each grant across the properties it covers; the property count is exact.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Eau Claire County
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $23.9M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Eau Claire
Eau Claire faces flood risk primarily from river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or upstream dam releases. When rivers exceed their banks, floodwaters spread across low-lying areas mapped in AE and A zones. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Eau Claire are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $23.9M.
Riverine flood risk in Eau Claire is driven by the proximity and elevation of properties relative to nearby waterways. Properties closer to rivers with lower ground elevations typically face higher flood insurance premiums under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
River flood maps can change when FEMA conducts new Flood Insurance Studies or when development alters drainage patterns. Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) can remove individual properties if the natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and the property was inadvertently mapped in the SFHA. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Eau Claire address.
Eau Claire, WI Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Eau Claire, WI?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Eau Claire are Zone AE, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Eau Claire?
If your Eau Claire property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) 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 federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since about a quarter of all NFIP flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones.
How do I check my flood zone in Eau Claire?
Enter your Eau Claire address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
Does Eau Claire offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Eau Claire participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 9 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 5% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 5% discount.
Has Eau Claire experienced major flooding events?
Eau Claire County, where Eau Claire is located, has been part of 4 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in 2005. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Eau Claire?
Eau Claire County has recorded 58 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $504K in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 1993, with 19 claims and $188K in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Eau Claire.
How many flood insurance policies are there in Eau Claire?
Eau Claire County had 116 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $1,034. The most policies are in Zone AE (59 policies). These are county-level counts of policies written or renewed in the trailing 13 months, not a point-in-time count of policies in force - a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice.
Can my Eau Claire property be removed from a high-risk flood zone?
Yes, if your property's natural ground elevation is above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in a high-risk zone, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). A successful LOMA removes the property from the Special Flood Hazard Area, generally eliminating the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement. You will need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor. If a property was raised above the BFE with fill material, the process is a LOMR-F rather than a LOMA.
What is Base Flood Elevation in Eau Claire?
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the predicted height of floodwaters during a 1% annual chance (100-year) flood, shown on FEMA maps as an elevation number in feet above sea level. In Eau Claire's Zone AE areas, BFE lines appear on the FIRM as wavy contours labeled with elevation values. Properties with a lowest floor at or above the BFE typically qualify for significantly lower NFIP flood insurance premiums.
Other Wisconsin Cities
Understanding Flood Zones
See the Flood Map for Any Eau Claire, WI Address
Enter a Eau Claire, WI address to view its FEMA flood map, zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Multi-county note: Eau Claire spans 2 counties: Eau Claire County (87.8%) and Chippewa (12.2%). The county-level flood risk data on this page reflects Eau Claire County only, which covers about 87.8% of the city. Use the address search above to check flood zone data specific to your property.
Disclaimer: Flood risk data on this page is sourced from FEMA datasets including the National Risk Index, NFIP claims and policy records, disaster declarations, and the Community Rating System. These datasets were last extracted on August 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.