Madison, Wisconsin Flood Zones
Madison is built on an isthmus between Lakes Mendota and Monona and faces flooding from both lakes and the Yahara River chain. Record rainfall in 2018 caused severe flooding across the isthmus.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Dane 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 HighEst. annual loss: $84.0M
Hurricane Risk
Very LowEst. annual loss: $17K
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Dane County
Dane County has been included in 3 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
These declarations affected communities across Dane County, including Madison.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Dane County
Properties in Dane County have filed 333 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $8.3M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $25K.
Highest-Claim Years
2018
85 claims - $5.0M
2008
53 claims - $1.2M
2007
20 claims - $291K
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone X
174
Zone AE
78
Zone A
69
Zone AO
1
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Madison
Properties in Madison, WI are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in Madison
Madison faces multiple inland flood threats, including riverine flooding from nearby waterways and flash flooding from intense rainfall overwhelming urban drainage systems. Properties near river corridors face the highest risk, but stormwater backup can affect neighborhoods well outside the mapped floodplain. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Madison are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $84.0M.
With both riverine and urban stormwater flood risk, insurance costs in Madison depend heavily on a property's elevation relative to nearby waterways and the local drainage infrastructure. FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 prices in multiple inland flood sources rather than relying on the flood zone line alone. 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.
Flood zone boundaries in Madison can shift when FEMA updates its Flood Insurance Studies or when upstream development changes how water moves through the watershed. New stormwater infrastructure or dam modifications can also trigger map revisions. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Madison address.
Check Your Madison Address
Enter any Madison, WI address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupMadison, WI Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Madison, WI?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Madison 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 Madison?
If your Madison 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 25% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
How do I check my flood zone in Madison?
Enter your Madison 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.
How high is flood risk in Madison?
According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Dane County (where Madison is located) has a "Relatively High" rating for inland flood risk. The estimated annual flood loss for the county is $84.0M. This county-level assessment considers historical flood losses, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
Has Madison experienced major flooding events?
Dane County, where Madison is located, has been part of 3 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides in 2018. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Madison?
Dane County has recorded 333 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $8.3M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2018, with 85 claims and $5.0M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Madison.
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