Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 69.7 | $15M | ||
| Cold wave | 85.8 | $6M | ||
| Hail | 96.0 | $4M | ||
| Tornado | 77.3 | $4M | ||
| Heat wave | 79.9 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 60.2 | $853K | ||
| Lightning | 65.7 | $489K | ||
| Winter weather | 62.2 | $113K | ||
| Earthquake | 25.3 | $53K | ||
| Ice storm | 28.0 | $33K | ||
| Wildfire | 19.2 | $8K | ||
| Hurricane | 21.7 | $8K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 32.2 | $8K | ||
| Landslide | 44.1 | $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
Most recent
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 5, 1994 | F4 | Maribel To | 2 / 0 |
| Jul 5, 1994 | F2 | Cooperstown | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 30, 1967 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 7, 1980 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 13, 2004 | F1 | Clark Mills | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 12, 2000 | Hail | St Nazianz | $50M |
| Jun 12, 2008 | Flash Flood | Manitowoc | $20M |
| Jul 1, 2006 | Hail | Branch | $7M |
| Jul 5, 1994 | Tornado | Maribel To | $6M |
| Jul 13, 2004 | Tornado | Clark Mills | $2M |
| Jun 27, 2013 | Hail | Manitowoc | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Brown County | 7 | |
| Sheboygan County | 9 | |
| Calumet County | 9 | |
| Mason County, MI | 7 | |
| Manistee County, MI | 6 | |
| Kewaunee County | 6 |
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.