Crawford County, Wisconsin
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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 | 56.1 | $8M | ||
| Cold wave | 66.5 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 58.4 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 75.8 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 82.4 | $987K | ||
| Strong wind | 48.1 | $510K | ||
| Landslide | 96.1 | $169K | ||
| Lightning | 23.8 | $81K | ||
| Ice storm | 45.3 | $66K | ||
| Drought | 34.6 | $38K | ||
| Earthquake | 19.9 | $28K | ||
| Winter weather | 15.7 | $13K | ||
| Wildfire | 13.9 | $5K | ||
| Hurricane | 8.1 | $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
Most recent
Show all 20
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 4, 1964 | F2 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Jun 17, 2026 | EF2 | Lynxville | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 24, 1971 | F1 | – | 4 / 0 |
| Jul 27, 2009 | EF1 | Fairview | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 18, 1955 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18, 2007 | Flash Flood | De Soto | $20M |
| Aug 28, 2018 | Flood | Bell Center | $9M |
| Sep 22, 2016 | Flash Flood | De Soto | $6M |
| Jun 22, 2013 | Flash Flood | Mt Zion | $4M |
| Jun 8, 2008 | Flood | Soldiers Grove | $3M |
| Jun 8, 2008 | Flood | Star 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Grant County | 18 | |
| Vernon County | 21 | |
| Richland County | 17 | |
| Clayton County, IA | 25 | |
| Allamakee County, IA | 20 |
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.