Chippewa County, Wisconsin
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Chippewa County, Wisconsin has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 67% of US counties. It ranks 32nd of 72 counties in Wisconsin. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $32 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $478 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2016 (severe storms, flooding and mudslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (85 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $337,000 on 46 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Chippewa County
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 71.0 | $16M | ||
| Cold wave | 89.5 | $8M | ||
| Tornado | 70.9 | $3M | ||
| Strong wind | 81.7 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 79.2 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 69.4 | $585K | ||
| Heat wave | 54.6 | $555K | ||
| Winter weather | 61.6 | $116K | ||
| Ice storm | 50.0 | $102K | ||
| Earthquake | 10.3 | $12K | ||
| Wildfire | 20.0 | $9K | ||
| Landslide | 66.9 | $5K | ||
| Drought | 12.9 | $21 |
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 Chippewa County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Wisconsin also had 8 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1953
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 441 storm reports in Chippewa County since 1953, with 6 deaths and 119 injuries and about $45.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 4, 1958.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 4, 1958 | F4 | – | 50 / 3 |
| Jul 30, 1977 | F4 | – | 20 / 0 |
| May 10, 1953 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 24, 2019 | EF3 | Albertville | 3 / 0 |
| Jun 4, 1958 | F3 | – | 3 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 30, 1977 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Sep 24, 2019 | Tornado | Albertville | $3M |
| Jul 30, 1977 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jul 15, 1980 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 10, 1953 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 4, 1958 | Tornado | – | $3M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 17, 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 Chippewa County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Chippewa County
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; 29,366 housing units.
Compare in Wisconsin
All 72 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee County | Cold wave | |
| Dane County | Inland flooding | |
| Waukesha County | Inland flooding | |
| Brown County | Inland flooding | |
| Racine County | Inland flooding | |
| Outagamie County | Inland flooding | |
| Winnebago County | Inland flooding | |
| Kenosha County | Cold wave |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire County | 7 | |
| Barron County | 8 | |
| Dunn County | 11 | |
| Clark County | 13 | |
| Taylor County | 6 | |
| Rusk County | 10 |
Cities in Chippewa County
Common questions about Chippewa County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Chippewa County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Chippewa County, about $16.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $8 million.
How many federal disasters has Chippewa County had?
Chippewa County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides in October 2016.
Is Chippewa County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 32nd 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 Chippewa County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Chippewa 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 Chippewa County had?
NOAA records list 35 tornadoes in Chippewa County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 4, 1958. The weather service has also logged 144 hail reports and 20 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.