Kenosha County, Wisconsin
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Kenosha County, Wisconsin has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 85% of US counties. It ranks 9th of 72 counties in Wisconsin. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $64 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $376 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 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 (204 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.2 million on 334 claims here, including $2.3 million for floods in 2017.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Kenosha 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.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | 98.3 | $25M | ||
| Inland flooding | 76.6 | $20M | ||
| Tornado | 92.7 | $10M | ||
| Strong wind | 92.1 | $3M | ||
| Heat wave | 80.4 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 88.1 | $2M | ||
| Lightning | 92.9 | $2M | ||
| Earthquake | 61.5 | $565K | ||
| Drought | 43.9 | $107K | ||
| Ice storm | 41.3 | $64K | ||
| Winter weather | 25.9 | $28K | ||
| Wildfire | 29.1 | $15K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 30.8 | $6K | ||
| Hurricane | 18.1 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 26.7 | $261 |
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 low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Kenosha 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 1959
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 346 storm reports in Kenosha County since 1959, with 2 deaths and 33 injuries and about $84.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on January 7, 2008 near Powers Lake.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 7, 2008 | EF3 | Powers Lake | 15 / 0 |
| Jan 7, 2008 | EF1 | Somers | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 9, 1974 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 10, 2020 | EF1 | Wilmot | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | EF1 | Somers | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 24, 2006 | Lightning | Kenosha | $14M |
| Jan 7, 2008 | Tornado | Powers Lake | $14M |
| Jun 12, 2000 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $13M |
| Jun 19, 2009 | Flash Flood | Downtown Kenosha | $12M |
| Jan 7, 2008 | Tornado | Somers | $8M |
| Jun 1, 2000 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $6M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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 Kenosha 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 Kenosha 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; 73,678 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lake County, IL | 15 | |
| McHenry County, IL | 14 | |
| Racine County | 15 | |
| Allegan County, MI | 15 | |
| Walworth County | 11 |
Cities in Kenosha County
Common questions about Kenosha County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Kenosha County?
Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Kenosha County, about $24.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $19.5 million.
How many federal disasters has Kenosha County had?
Kenosha County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.
Is Kenosha County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 9th 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 Kenosha County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Kenosha 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 Kenosha County had?
NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Kenosha County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on January 7, 2008 near Powers Lake. The weather service has also logged 78 hail reports and 55 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.