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Brown County, Wisconsin

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Moderate overall risk
3rd of 72highest risk in Wisconsin
$104Mexpected losses a year
7federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Brown County, Wisconsin has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 90% of US counties. It ranks 3rd of 72 counties in Wisconsin. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $104 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $386 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (452 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.3 million on 383 claims here, including $1.0 million for floods in 2019.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Brown County

$57.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$25.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$11.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate91.9
$57M
Cold waveHigh98.1
$25M
TornadoHigh93.4
$12M
HailHigh95.7
$4M
LightningHigh95.0
$2M
Heat waveLow76.0
$1M
Strong windLow31.0
$367K
Winter weatherModerate83.9
$313K
EarthquakeVery Low35.3
$139K
Ice stormLow47.8
$95K
Coastal floodingLow46.4
$69K
WildfireVery Low33.8
$22K
HurricaneVery Low26.1
$12K
LandslideVery Low57.8
$3K

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Brown County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm3
Flood2
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 18, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 13, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Wisconsin also had 8 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 402 storm reports in Brown County since 1956, with 1 death and 8 injuries and about $10.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 10, 1959.

30tornadoes
129hail reports, largest 3 inches
196damaging thunderstorm winds
25floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 10, 1959F2–3 / 0
Apr 22, 1970F2–2 / 0
Apr 22, 1970F2–1 / 0
Aug 16, 1968F2–1 / 0
Aug 6, 2013EF1Wrightstown0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 10, 1959Tornado–$3M
Aug 6, 2013TornadoWrightstown$2M
Mar 15, 2019FloodSuamico$1M
Jul 23, 1994Thunderstorm WindBellevue$500K
Aug 6, 2013TornadoWrightstown$500K
Sep 17, 2018Flash FloodGreen Bay$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 20, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Brown County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (452 policies)
10%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.3 millionpaid on 383 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $1 million paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Brown County

$266,000median home value (Wisconsin $266,500, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Wisconsin 1975, US 1980)
48%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.4%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 115,493 housing units.

Compare in Wisconsin

All 72 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Milwaukee CountyHighCold wave
Dane CountyModerateInland flooding
Waukesha CountyModerateInland flooding
Brown CountyModerateInland flooding
Racine CountyModerateInland flooding
Outagamie CountyLowInland flooding
Winnebago CountyModerateInland flooding
Kenosha CountyModerateCold wave

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Outagamie CountyLow10
Manitowoc CountyLow7
Calumet CountyVery Low9
Shawano CountyLow6
Oconto CountyLow4
Door CountyLow4
Kewaunee CountyVery Low6

Cities in Brown County

Common questions about Brown County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Brown County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Brown County, about $57.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $25.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Brown County had?

Brown County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Brown County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 3rd highest of 72 in Wisconsin. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Brown County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Brown County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Brown County had?

NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Brown County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 10, 1959. The weather service has also logged 129 hail reports and 25 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.