Iron County, Wisconsin
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Iron County, Wisconsin has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 88% of US counties. It ranks 70th of 72 counties in Wisconsin. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and lightning. FEMA estimates about $3.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $628 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2018 (severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, flooding and landslides). Only 19 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 Iron 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.
- Go indoors when you hear thunder.
- Use surge protectors for electronics.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | 72.2 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 18.4 | $2M | ||
| Lightning | 45.7 | $149K | ||
| Strong wind | 14.9 | $90K | ||
| Winter weather | 62.3 | $73K | ||
| Tornado | 12.2 | $71K | ||
| Hail | 18.1 | $47K | ||
| Heat wave | 11.4 | $17K | ||
| Ice storm | 11.2 | $4K | ||
| Wildfire | 7.4 | $2K | ||
| Drought | 15.6 | $614 | ||
| Coastal flooding | 21.8 | $509 | ||
| Earthquake | 0.3 | $271 | ||
| Landslide | 11.4 | $25 |
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 high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Iron 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 1958
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 114 storm reports in Iron County since 1958, with 1 death and 6 injuries and about $1.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 14, 1958.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 14, 1958 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 27, 2010 | EF1 | Springstead | 3 / 0 |
| Jul 11, 2016 | EF1 | Van Buskirk | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 30, 1983 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 25, 2020 | EF0 | Rouse | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2013 | Lightning | Mercer | $1M |
| Jul 7, 1970 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jul 27, 2010 | Tornado | Springstead | $160K |
| Jul 17, 2011 | Lightning | Mercer | $20K |
| May 18, 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sandrock | $15K |
| Jul 27, 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mercer | $10K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 21, 2025. 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 Iron 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 Iron 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; 5,566 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vilas County | 5 | |
| Ashland County | 12 | |
| Gogebic County, MI | 7 | |
| Price County | 6 |
Common questions about Iron County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Iron County?
Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Iron County, about $1.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.6 million.
How many federal disasters has Iron County had?
Iron County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides in October 2018.
Is Iron County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 70th 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 Iron County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Iron 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 Iron County had?
NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Iron County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 14, 1958. The weather service has also logged 40 hail reports and 6 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.