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Monroe County, Wisconsin

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

Relatively Low overall risk
14th of 72highest risk in Wisconsin
$31Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Monroe County, Wisconsin has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 79% of US counties. It ranks 14th of 72 counties in Wisconsin. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $31 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $660 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2019 (severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (90 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.3 million on 97 claims here, including $867,000 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 Monroe County

$13.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • 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 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.5 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
Inland floodingModerate78.4
$14M
Cold waveHigh95.8
$10M
TornadoModerate76.3
$3M
HailModerate92.3
$2M
Strong windModerate83.5
$1M
Heat waveLow76.1
$939K
LightningLow47.6
$164K
LandslideModerate93.4
$73K
Ice stormLow47.5
$59K
Winter weatherLow54.6
$58K
DroughtVery Low29.6
$18K
EarthquakeVery Low17.6
$18K
WildfireVery Low33.3
$14K
HurricaneVery Low11.3
$2K

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Monroe County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood4
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 27, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 18, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Oct 7, 2017Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudMajor disaster
Oct 20, 2016Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 14, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 18, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 24, 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 24, 1998Severe Storms,Straigh Line Winds, Tornadoes,Rain,And FloodiMajor disaster
Jul 2, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 13
Aug 30, 1990Severe Storms & 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 511 storm reports in Monroe County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $72 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 19, 1957.

27tornadoes
196hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
232damaging thunderstorm winds
33floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 19, 1957F3–0 / 0
Aug 12, 1985F2–0 / 0
Jun 15, 2022EF2Ridgeville2 / 0
May 22, 2011EF2Tunnel City0 / 0
Jul 18, 1971F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 28, 2018Flash FloodLeon$27M
Apr 10, 2011HailTomah$7M
Jul 20, 2017FloodWarrens$5M
Jul 20, 2017Flash FloodWarrens$4M
Aug 23, 2006HailWarrens$4M
Aug 23, 2006Thunderstorm WindWarrens$4M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 5, 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 Monroe County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (90 policies)
13.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.3 millionpaid on 97 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $866,536 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 Monroe County

$210,000median home value (Wisconsin $266,500, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (Wisconsin 1975, US 1980)
50%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.9%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; 20,022 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
La Crosse CountyLow16
Vernon CountyLow21
Juneau CountyLow14
Jackson CountyLow12

Common questions about Monroe County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Monroe County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Monroe County, about $13.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $10 million.

How many federal disasters has Monroe County had?

Monroe County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in August 2019.

Is Monroe County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 14th 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 Monroe County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Monroe 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 Monroe County had?

NOAA records list 27 tornadoes in Monroe County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 19, 1957. The weather service has also logged 196 hail reports and 33 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.