Monroe County, Wisconsin
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 78.4 | $14M | ||
| Cold wave | 95.8 | $10M | ||
| Tornado | 76.3 | $3M | ||
| Hail | 92.3 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 83.5 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 76.1 | $939K | ||
| Lightning | 47.6 | $164K | ||
| Landslide | 93.4 | $73K | ||
| Ice storm | 47.5 | $59K | ||
| Winter weather | 54.6 | $58K | ||
| Drought | 29.6 | $18K | ||
| Earthquake | 17.6 | $18K | ||
| Wildfire | 33.3 | $14K | ||
| Hurricane | 11.3 | $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
Most recent
Show all 13
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 1957 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 12, 1985 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 15, 2022 | EF2 | Ridgeville | 2 / 0 |
| May 22, 2011 | EF2 | Tunnel City | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 18, 1971 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 2018 | Flash Flood | Leon | $27M |
| Apr 10, 2011 | Hail | Tomah | $7M |
| Jul 20, 2017 | Flood | Warrens | $5M |
| Jul 20, 2017 | Flash Flood | Warrens | $4M |
| Aug 23, 2006 | Hail | Warrens | $4M |
| Aug 23, 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Warrens | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| La Crosse County | 16 | |
| Vernon County | 21 | |
| Juneau County | 14 | |
| Jackson County | 12 |
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.