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Dodge County, Wisconsin

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

Relatively Low overall risk
26th of 72highest risk in Wisconsin
$34Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Dodge County, Wisconsin has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 70% of US counties. It ranks 26th of 72 counties in Wisconsin. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $34 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $382 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2011 (severe winter storm and snowstorm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (100 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $205,000 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 Dodge County

$14.5 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$6.9 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$6.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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 floodingLow68.0
$14M
Cold waveModerate87.3
$7M
TornadoModerate85.3
$6M
HailModerate93.2
$3M
Strong windModerate77.8
$1M
Heat waveLow72.7
$1M
LightningModerate59.4
$391K
EarthquakeVery Low36.9
$150K
DroughtLow46.2
$132K
Winter weatherModerate63.5
$122K
Ice stormLow42.0
$70K
WildfireVery Low47.6
$49K
HurricaneVery Low18.4
$6K
LandslideLow63.3
$4K

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 Dodge County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm4
Flood2
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Apr 5, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 14, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2008Record Snow and Near Record SnowEmergency
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 18, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 24, 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 7, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Mar 23, 1976Severe Storms, Icing, Wind & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 11
Apr 26, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 614 storm reports in Dodge County since 1951, with 1 death and 58 injuries and about $82.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 23, 2004 near Waupun.

70tornadoes
203hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
288damaging thunderstorm winds
40floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 23, 2004F3Waupun0 / 0
Apr 21, 1974F3–6 / 0
Apr 21, 1974F3–0 / 0
Jun 5, 1977F3–6 / 0
Apr 7, 1980F3–4 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 8, 2008Flash FloodReeseville$10M
Jun 23, 2004TornadoWaupun$9M
Jun 8, 2008Flash FloodAlderley$8M
Jun 7, 2008Flash FloodWatertown$7M
Jun 7, 2008Flash FloodLebanon$6M
May 31, 1998Thunderstorm WindCountywide$4M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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 Dodge County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (100 policies)
22.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$204,545paid on 46 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $82,153 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 Dodge County

$231,900median home value (Wisconsin $266,500, US $332,700)
1970median year homes were built (Wisconsin 1975, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.5%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; 38,524 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
Dane CountyModerate17
Waukesha CountyModerate17
Washington CountyLow12
Fond du Lac CountyLow10
Jefferson CountyLow12
Columbia CountyModerate9
Green Lake CountyLow7

Common questions about Dodge County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Dodge County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Dodge County, about $14.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $6.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Dodge County had?

Dodge County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm in April 2011.

Is Dodge County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 26th 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 Dodge County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Dodge 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 Dodge County had?

NOAA records list 70 tornadoes in Dodge County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 23, 2004 near Waupun. The weather service has also logged 203 hail reports and 40 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.