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Manitowoc County, Wisconsin

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

Relatively Low overall risk
27th of 72highest risk in Wisconsin
$32Mexpected losses a year
7federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Manitowoc County, Wisconsin has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 69% of US counties. It ranks 27th of 72 counties in Wisconsin. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and hail. FEMA estimates about $32 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $399 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 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 (60 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $481,000 on 35 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Manitowoc County

$15 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$6.1 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.

Hail

High
$4.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow69.7
$15M
Cold waveModerate85.8
$6M
HailHigh96.0
$4M
TornadoModerate77.3
$4M
Heat waveModerate79.9
$2M
Strong windModerate60.2
$853K
LightningModerate65.7
$489K
Winter weatherModerate62.2
$113K
EarthquakeVery Low25.3
$53K
Ice stormLow28.0
$33K
WildfireVery Low19.2
$8K
HurricaneVery Low21.7
$8K
Coastal floodingVery Low32.2
$8K
LandslideVery Low44.1
$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 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 Manitowoc County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood3
Severe Storm2
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 14, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 24, 2001SnowEmergency
Jul 13, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 23, 1976Severe Storms, Icing, Wind & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Wisconsin also had 8 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 269 storm reports in Manitowoc County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 33 injuries and about $89.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on July 5, 1994 near Maribel To.

22tornadoes
69hail reports, largest 3 inches
157damaging thunderstorm winds
15floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 5, 1994F4Maribel To2 / 0
Jul 5, 1994F2Cooperstown0 / 0
Jun 30, 1967F2–0 / 0
Jun 7, 1980F2–0 / 0
Jul 13, 2004F1Clark Mills0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 12, 2000HailSt Nazianz$50M
Jun 12, 2008Flash FloodManitowoc$20M
Jul 1, 2006HailBranch$7M
Jul 5, 1994TornadoMaribel To$6M
Jul 13, 2004TornadoClark Mills$2M
Jun 27, 2013HailManitowoc$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 17, 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 Manitowoc County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (60 policies)
21.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$481,123paid on 35 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $311,684 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 Manitowoc County

$186,900median home value (Wisconsin $266,500, US $332,700)
1964median year homes were built (Wisconsin 1975, US 1980)
69%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.3%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; 38,084 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
Brown CountyModerate7
Sheboygan CountyLow9
Calumet CountyVery Low9
Mason County, MIVery Low7
Manistee County, MIVery Low6
Kewaunee CountyVery Low6

Cities in Manitowoc County

Common questions about Manitowoc County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Manitowoc County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Manitowoc County, about $15 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $6.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Manitowoc County had?

Manitowoc County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Manitowoc County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 27th 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 Manitowoc County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Manitowoc 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 Manitowoc County had?

NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Manitowoc County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on July 5, 1994 near Maribel To. The weather service has also logged 69 hail reports and 15 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.