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Douglas County, Wisconsin

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

Relatively Low overall risk
39th of 72highest risk in Wisconsin
$25Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

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

$12.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 11 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$10.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$681,171 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveHigh94.7
$12M
Inland floodingLow61.5
$11M
Heat waveLow61.4
$681K
LightningModerate73.2
$611K
TornadoLow27.4
$471K
Strong windLow28.3
$302K
HailLow44.4
$234K
Winter weatherLow55.2
$85K
Ice stormVery Low26.0
$28K
WildfireVery Low39.2
$27K
EarthquakeVery Low2.5
$3K
Coastal floodingVery Low24.0
$1K
DroughtVery Low15.7
$937
LandslideVery Low16.2
$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

Flood4
Severe Storm2
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 10, 2018Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 9, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 2, 2012Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 11, 2001Flooding, Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 16, 1999Wi-Flood-07/20/99Major disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Sep 10, 1972Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

12tornadoes
107hail reports, largest 4 inches
162damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 30, 1968F2–0 / 0
Sep 3, 1980F2–0 / 0
Jul 1, 2011EF2Solon Springs0 / 0
Jun 27, 1994F1Wascott0 / 0
Jun 27, 1994F1Dairyland0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 20, 2012FloodItasca$21M
Jul 25, 1999Flash FloodCountywide$2M
Jun 27, 1994TornadoWascott$550K
Jun 30, 1968Tornado–$250K
Jul 17, 2011LightningSolon Springs$200K
Apr 11, 2023FloodOliver$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 ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (63 policies)
13.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$704,673paid on 21 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $419,506 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 Douglas County

$205,800median home value (Wisconsin $266,500, US $332,700)
1969median year homes were built (Wisconsin 1975, US 1980)
66%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.6%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; 23,154 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
St. Louis County, MNModerate15
Carlton County, MNLow8
Pine County, MNLow13
Sawyer CountyLow7
Washburn CountyVery Low8
Burnett CountyLow8
Bayfield CountyVery Low10
Lake County, MNVery Low10

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.