Florence County, Wisconsin
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | 97.1 | $16M | ||
| Inland flooding | 11.0 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 45.1 | $212K | ||
| Tornado | 11.0 | $77K | ||
| Lightning | 18.9 | $63K | ||
| Strong wind | 8.8 | $62K | ||
| Winter weather | 18.0 | $15K | ||
| Heat wave | 4.7 | $5K | ||
| Wildfire | 8.6 | $3K | ||
| Earthquake | 0.5 | $544 | ||
| Ice storm | 0.6 | $329 | ||
| Drought | 13.2 | $75 | ||
| Landslide | 9.3 | $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
Most recent
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30, 2002 | F1 | Spread Eagle | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 14, 1957 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 9, 2020 | EF1 | Tipler | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 10, 2011 | EF0 | Long Lake | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 27, 2023 | EF0 | Long Lake | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 15, 1999 | Flash Flood | Florence | $2M |
| Jul 18, 2013 | Lightning | Hematite | $162K |
| Apr 18, 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Florence | $120K |
| Jul 30, 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Long Lake | $102K |
| Sep 30, 2002 | Tornado | Spread Eagle | $50K |
| Jun 14, 1957 | Tornado | – | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Marinette County | 5 | |
| Dickinson County, MI | 3 | |
| Iron County, MI | 5 | |
| Forest County | 6 |
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.