La Crosse, WI Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
La Crosse sits at the confluence of the Mississippi, Black, and La Crosse rivers and faces major riverine flood risk. The city's floodplain location makes it vulnerable during high-water events on the Upper Mississippi.
La Crosse County has recorded 215 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $1.2M 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
525
La Crosse County
Avg. Premium
$704/yr
La Crosse County
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: La Crosse County
Properties in La Crosse County have filed 215 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $1.2M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $6K.
Highest-Claim Years
2001
59 claims - $133K
1993
17 claims - $91K
2019
15 claims - $119K
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: La Crosse County
Only roughly 1 in 91 households in La Crosse County carries NFIP flood insurance (1% of estimated households). With 80 recorded flood events and $26.2M in damage, most flood losses in this county are likely uninsured.
Penetration Rate
1%
roughly 1 in 91 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 2
215 claims over 45+ years across 525 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$5,693
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, La Crosse 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 La Crosse.
Not sure whether you're required to carry it? See do I need flood insurance?, or compare NFIP vs. private flood insurance.
Repetitive Loss Properties: La Crosse County
La Crosse County has 13 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 1 severe repetitive loss properties. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced August 2026.
Multiple Loss
13
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
1
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
0
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Federal Flood Disaster History: La Crosse County
La Crosse County has been included in 7 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
These declarations affected communities across La Crosse County, including La Crosse.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: La Crosse County
NOAA has recorded 80 flood events in La Crosse County since 1996, causing $26.2M in damage.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: La Crosse 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: $19.3M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
What Your Flood Zone Means in La Crosse
La Crosse 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 La Crosse are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $19.3M.
Riverine flood risk in La Crosse 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 La Crosse address.
La Crosse, WI Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in La Crosse, WI?
The most common FEMA flood zones in La Crosse 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 La Crosse?
If your La Crosse 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 La Crosse?
Enter your La Crosse 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.
What type of flooding affects La Crosse?
La Crosse is primarily affected by river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall. The most common FEMA flood zone designations are Zone AE, Zone X. Use the free lookup tool above to check the specific flood zone for any La Crosse address.
Has La Crosse experienced major flooding events?
La Crosse County, where La Crosse is located, has been part of 7 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in 2019. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in La Crosse?
La Crosse County has recorded 215 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $1.2M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2001, with 59 claims and $133K in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including La Crosse.
How many flood insurance policies are there in La Crosse?
La Crosse County had 525 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $704. The most policies are in Zone AE (380 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.
How many La Crosse properties have flooded repeatedly?
La Crosse County has 13 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 1 severe repetitive loss properties. These are properties that have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000+ or two claims exceeding the building value.
Can my La Crosse 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 La Crosse?
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 La Crosse'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 La Crosse, WI Address
Enter a La Crosse, WI address to view its FEMA flood map, zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
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.