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Juneau County, Wisconsin

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

Relatively Low overall risk
24th of 72highest risk in Wisconsin
$24Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$11.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$5.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.

Cold wave

Moderate
$4.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow70.7
$11M
Heat waveModerate95.1
$5M
Cold waveModerate84.6
$4M
TornadoModerate65.3
$2M
HailModerate87.9
$1M
Strong windModerate54.1
$512K
LightningLow53.1
$218K
Winter weatherLow41.2
$39K
DroughtLow34.4
$32K
WildfireVery Low46.5
$32K
EarthquakeVery Low20.3
$24K
Ice stormVery Low25.1
$20K
LandslideLow80.7
$14K
HurricaneVery Low8.6
$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

Severe Storm7
Flood5
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 18, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Oct 20, 2016Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Oct 21, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 14, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 18, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 2001Flooding, Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 24, 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 14
Sep 30, 1992Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 13, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1978Severe Storms, Flooding, Hail & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency

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.

27tornadoes
141hail reports, largest 3 inches
167damaging thunderstorm winds
45floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 19, 1957F4–0 / 1
Apr 14, 2026EF3Union Center0 / 0
Jul 3, 1983F3–8 / 0
Aug 12, 1985F2–22 / 2
May 22, 2011EF2Mather0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 28, 2018Flash FloodUnion Center$29M
Jun 8, 2008FloodMauston$4M
May 22, 2011TornadoMather$4M
Jun 8, 2008FloodMauston$3M
Aug 12, 1985Tornado–$3M
Apr 14, 2026TornadoUnion 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 ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (65 policies)
15.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.3 millionpaid on 114 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $3.6 million 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 Juneau County

$177,700median home value (Wisconsin $266,500, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Wisconsin 1975, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.5%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; 14,767 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
Wood CountyLow11
Sauk CountyLow13
Columbia CountyModerate9
Monroe CountyLow13
Vernon CountyLow21
Jackson CountyLow12
Adams CountyLow10

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.