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Florence County, Wisconsin

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

Relatively Low overall risk
44th of 72highest risk in Wisconsin
$18Mexpected losses a year
4federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Florence County, Wisconsin has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 54% of US counties. It ranks 44th of 72 counties in Wisconsin. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $3,853 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2016 (severe storms and flooding). Only 10 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Florence County

$15.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.

Hail

Low
$211,957 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveHigh97.1
$16M
Inland floodingVery Low11.0
$1M
HailLow45.1
$212K
TornadoVery Low11.0
$77K
LightningVery Low18.9
$63K
Strong windVery Low8.8
$62K
Winter weatherVery Low18.0
$15K
Heat waveVery Low4.7
$5K
WildfireVery Low8.6
$3K
EarthquakeVery Low0.5
$544
Ice stormVery Low0.6
$329
DroughtVery Low13.2
$75
LandslideVery Low9.3
$23

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Drought1
Flood1
Hurricane1
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Aug 9, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 16, 1999Wi-Flood-07/20/99Major disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 84 storm reports in Florence County since 1957 and about $2.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on September 30, 2002 near Spread Eagle.

5tornadoes
28hail reports, largest 2 inches
47damaging thunderstorm winds
3floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 30, 2002F1Spread Eagle0 / 0
Jun 14, 1957F1–0 / 0
Aug 9, 2020EF1Tipler0 / 0
Apr 10, 2011EF0Long Lake0 / 0
Jul 27, 2023EF0Long Lake0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 15, 1999Flash FloodFlorence$2M
Jul 18, 2013LightningHematite$162K
Apr 18, 2004Thunderstorm WindFlorence$120K
Jul 30, 1999Thunderstorm WindLong Lake$102K
Sep 30, 2002TornadoSpread Eagle$50K
Jun 14, 1957Tornado–$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 20, 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 Florence County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (10 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4,849paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $4,849 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 Florence County

$173,200median home value (Wisconsin $266,500, US $332,700)
1979median year homes were built (Wisconsin 1975, US 1980)
52%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.2%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; 4,638 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
Marinette CountyLow5
Dickinson County, MILow3
Iron County, MILow5
Forest CountyLow6

Common questions about Florence County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Florence County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Florence County, about $15.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Florence County had?

Florence County has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in August 2016.

Is Florence County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 44th 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 Florence County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Florence 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 Florence County had?

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Florence County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on September 30, 2002 near Spread Eagle. The weather service has also logged 28 hail reports and 3 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.