Douglas County, Wisconsin
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Douglas County, Wisconsin has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 62% of US counties. It ranks 39th of 72 counties in Wisconsin. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $25 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $569 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2018 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (63 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $705,000 on 21 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Douglas County
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | 94.7 | $12M | ||
| Inland flooding | 61.5 | $11M | ||
| Heat wave | 61.4 | $681K | ||
| Lightning | 73.2 | $611K | ||
| Tornado | 27.4 | $471K | ||
| Strong wind | 28.3 | $302K | ||
| Hail | 44.4 | $234K | ||
| Winter weather | 55.2 | $85K | ||
| Ice storm | 26.0 | $28K | ||
| Wildfire | 39.2 | $27K | ||
| Earthquake | 2.5 | $3K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 24.0 | $1K | ||
| Drought | 15.7 | $937 | ||
| Landslide | 16.2 | $81 |
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 low and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Douglas 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 1964
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 311 storm reports in Douglas County since 1964 and about $24.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 30, 1968.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 30, 1968 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 3, 1980 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 1, 2011 | EF2 | Solon Springs | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 27, 1994 | F1 | Wascott | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 27, 1994 | F1 | Dairyland | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 20, 2012 | Flood | Itasca | $21M |
| Jul 25, 1999 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $2M |
| Jun 27, 1994 | Tornado | Wascott | $550K |
| Jun 30, 1968 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jul 17, 2011 | Lightning | Solon Springs | $200K |
| Apr 11, 2023 | Flood | Oliver | $150K |
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 Douglas 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 Douglas 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; 23,154 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 |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County, MN | 15 | |
| Carlton County, MN | 8 | |
| Pine County, MN | 13 | |
| Sawyer County | 7 | |
| Washburn County | 8 | |
| Burnett County | 8 | |
| Bayfield County | 10 | |
| Lake County, MN | 10 |
Cities in Douglas County
Common questions about Douglas County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Douglas County?
Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Douglas County, about $12.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $10.5 million.
How many federal disasters has Douglas County had?
Douglas County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in August 2018.
Is Douglas County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 39th 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 Douglas County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Douglas 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 Douglas County had?
NOAA records list 12 tornadoes in Douglas County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 30, 1968. The weather service has also logged 107 hail reports and 22 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.