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Crawford County, Wisconsin

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

Relatively Low overall risk
56th of 72highest risk in Wisconsin
$14Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 100homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Crawford County, Wisconsin has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 54% of US counties. It ranks 56th of 72 counties in Wisconsin. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $887 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2018 (severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, flooding and landslides). About 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (72 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.8 million on 235 claims here, including $1.5 million for floods in 2018.

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

Top risks in Crawford County

$7.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$1.8 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.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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 floodingLow56.1
$8M
Cold waveModerate66.5
$2M
TornadoLow58.4
$2M
Heat waveLow75.8
$1M
HailModerate82.4
$987K
Strong windLow48.1
$510K
LandslideModerate96.1
$169K
LightningVery Low23.8
$81K
Ice stormLow45.3
$66K
DroughtLow34.6
$38K
EarthquakeVery Low19.9
$28K
Winter weatherVery Low15.7
$13K
WildfireVery Low13.9
$5K
HurricaneVery Low8.1
$1K

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 relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood7
Tornado1
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Oct 18, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Oct 7, 2017Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudMajor disaster
Oct 20, 2016Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 8, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 14, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 26, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 18, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 2001Flooding, Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 24, 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 20
Jul 24, 1998Severe Storms,Straigh Line Winds, Tornadoes,Rain,And FloodiMajor disaster
Jul 2, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 30, 1992Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 13, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1978Severe Storms, Flooding, Hail & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Mar 23, 1976Severe Storms, Icing, Wind & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 1, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 1965Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 380 storm reports in Crawford County since 1955, with 1 death and 11 injuries and about $63.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 4, 1964.

15tornadoes
94hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
127damaging thunderstorm winds
121floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 4, 1964F2–2 / 0
Jun 17, 2026EF2Lynxville0 / 0
Jun 24, 1971F1–4 / 0
Jul 27, 2009EF1Fairview0 / 0
Apr 18, 1955F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 18, 2007Flash FloodDe Soto$20M
Aug 28, 2018FloodBell Center$9M
Sep 22, 2016Flash FloodDe Soto$6M
Jun 22, 2013Flash FloodMt Zion$4M
Jun 8, 2008FloodSoldiers Grove$3M
Jun 8, 2008FloodStar Vly$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 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 Crawford County

Check your address flood zone ›
1%of homes have federal flood insurance (72 policies)
9.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.8 millionpaid on 235 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $1.5 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 Crawford County

$183,400median home value (Wisconsin $266,500, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Wisconsin 1975, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.9%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; 8,765 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
Grant CountyLow18
Vernon CountyLow21
Richland CountyLow17
Clayton County, IAVery Low25
Allamakee County, IAVery Low20

Common questions about Crawford County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Crawford County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Crawford County, about $7.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Crawford County had?

Crawford County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides in October 2018.

Is Crawford County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 56th 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 Crawford County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 100 homes in Crawford 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 Crawford County had?

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Crawford County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 4, 1964. The weather service has also logged 94 hail reports and 121 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.