Juneau County, Wisconsin
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Juneau County, Wisconsin has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 71% of US counties. It ranks 24th of 72 counties in Wisconsin. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $24 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $910 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (65 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.3 million on 114 claims here, including $3.6 million for floods in 2018.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Juneau County
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 70.7 | $11M | ||
| Heat wave | 95.1 | $5M | ||
| Cold wave | 84.6 | $4M | ||
| Tornado | 65.3 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 87.9 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 54.1 | $512K | ||
| Lightning | 53.1 | $218K | ||
| Winter weather | 41.2 | $39K | ||
| Drought | 34.4 | $32K | ||
| Wildfire | 46.5 | $32K | ||
| Earthquake | 20.3 | $24K | ||
| Ice storm | 25.1 | $20K | ||
| Landslide | 80.7 | $14K | ||
| Hurricane | 8.6 | $1K |
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 moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Juneau County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 14
Wisconsin also had 8 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1955
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 396 storm reports in Juneau County since 1955, with 3 deaths and 42 injuries and about $55.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 19, 1957.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 1957 | F4 | – | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | EF3 | Union Center | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 3, 1983 | F3 | – | 8 / 0 |
| Aug 12, 1985 | F2 | – | 22 / 2 |
| May 22, 2011 | EF2 | Mather | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 2018 | Flash Flood | Union Center | $29M |
| Jun 8, 2008 | Flood | Mauston | $4M |
| May 22, 2011 | Tornado | Mather | $4M |
| Jun 8, 2008 | Flood | Mauston | $3M |
| Aug 12, 1985 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 14, 2026 | Tornado | Union Center | $2M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 10, 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 Juneau 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 Juneau 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; 14,767 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wood County | 11 | |
| Sauk County | 13 | |
| Columbia County | 9 | |
| Monroe County | 13 | |
| Vernon County | 21 | |
| Jackson County | 12 | |
| Adams County | 10 |
Common questions about Juneau County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Juneau County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Juneau County, about $11.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $5.2 million.
How many federal disasters has Juneau County had?
Juneau County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.
Is Juneau County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 24th 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 Juneau County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Juneau 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 Juneau County had?
NOAA records list 27 tornadoes in Juneau County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 19, 1957. The weather service has also logged 141 hail reports and 45 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.