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Kenosha County, Wisconsin

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
9th of 72highest risk in Wisconsin
$64Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

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

$24.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$19.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.
$10.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveHigh98.3
$25M
Inland floodingModerate76.6
$20M
TornadoHigh92.7
$10M
Strong windHigh92.1
$3M
Heat waveModerate80.4
$2M
HailModerate88.1
$2M
LightningHigh92.9
$2M
EarthquakeLow61.5
$565K
DroughtLow43.9
$107K
Ice stormLow41.3
$64K
Winter weatherLow25.9
$28K
WildfireVery Low29.1
$15K
Coastal floodingVery Low30.8
$6K
HurricaneVery Low18.1
$6K
LandslideVery Low26.7
$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

Severe Storm5
Flood4
Snowstorm4
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 11, 2020Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 14, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2008Record Snow and Near Record SnowEmergency
Aug 26, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 18, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2001SnowEmergency
Jun 24, 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 14
Jul 2, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 7, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 19, 1979Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

13tornadoes
78hail reports, largest 2.9 inches
173damaging thunderstorm winds
55floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jan 7, 2008EF3Powers Lake15 / 0
Jan 7, 2008EF1Somers0 / 0
Jun 9, 1974F1–0 / 0
Aug 10, 2020EF1Wilmot0 / 0
Apr 14, 2026EF1Somers0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 24, 2006LightningKenosha$14M
Jan 7, 2008TornadoPowers Lake$14M
Jun 12, 2000Flash FloodCountywide$13M
Jun 19, 2009Flash FloodDowntown Kenosha$12M
Jan 7, 2008TornadoSomers$8M
Jun 1, 2000Flash FloodCountywide$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 ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (204 policies)
14.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5.2 millionpaid on 334 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $2.3 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 Kenosha County

$265,500median home value (Wisconsin $266,500, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Wisconsin 1975, US 1980)
56%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.5%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; 73,678 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
Lake County, ILHigh15
McHenry County, ILModerate14
Racine CountyModerate15
Allegan County, MILow15
Walworth CountyLow11

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.