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Ozaukee County, Wisconsin

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

Relatively Low overall risk
47th of 72highest risk in Wisconsin
$33Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 67homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Ozaukee County, Wisconsin has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 50% of US counties. It ranks 47th of 72 counties in Wisconsin. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $33 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $362 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2018 (severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, flooding and landslides). About 1 in 67 homes here carry federal flood insurance (362 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.9 million on 352 claims here, including $1.5 million for floods in 2008.

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

Top risks in Ozaukee County

$17.3 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
$8.9 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.
$3.5 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 floodingLow58.3
$17M
Cold waveModerate82.8
$9M
TornadoLow59.3
$3M
HailLow71.2
$1M
Heat waveLow56.0
$994K
Strong windLow31.0
$608K
LightningLow41.4
$344K
Winter weatherLow44.2
$107K
EarthquakeVery Low26.4
$103K
Ice stormVery Low20.6
$34K
WildfireVery Low19.5
$15K
DroughtVery Low21.5
$12K
Coastal floodingVery Low31.0
$11K
HurricaneVery Low7.5
$2K
LandslideVery Low15.4
$135

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 very 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 Ozaukee County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood4
Severe Storm4
Tornado1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Oct 18, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Jun 14, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 18, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2001SnowEmergency
Jul 7, 1997Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 6, 1991Severe Storms & HailMajor disaster
Oct 7, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 23, 1976Severe Storms, Icing, Wind & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 11
Apr 21, 1965Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 223 storm reports in Ozaukee County since 1960, with 1 death and 40 injuries and about $28.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on August 22, 1964.

4tornadoes
71hail reports, largest 3 inches
85damaging thunderstorm winds
37floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 22, 1964F4–30 / 0
Jul 18, 1996F1Fredonia0 / 0
Aug 10, 2015EF0Freistadt0 / 0
Jul 18, 1996F0Port Washington Arpt0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 13, 2006HailSaukville$6M
Jun 18, 1996Flash FloodPort Washington$5M
May 31, 1998Thunderstorm WindCountywide$4M
Jun 21, 1997Flash FloodMequon$4M
Aug 22, 1964Tornado–$3M
Jun 18, 1996Flash FloodBelgium$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 14, 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 Ozaukee County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (362 policies)
44.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.9 millionpaid on 352 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $1.5 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 Ozaukee County

$390,200median home value (Wisconsin $266,500, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Wisconsin 1975, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
0.3%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; 39,872 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
Milwaukee CountyHigh20
Waukesha CountyModerate17
Muskegon County, MILow12
Washington CountyLow12
Sheboygan CountyLow9
Oceana County, MIVery Low11

Cities in Ozaukee County

Common questions about Ozaukee County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Ozaukee County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Ozaukee County, about $17.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $8.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Ozaukee County had?

Ozaukee County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides in October 2018.

Is Ozaukee County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 47th 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 Ozaukee County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 67 homes in Ozaukee 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 Ozaukee County had?

NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Ozaukee County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on August 22, 1964. The weather service has also logged 71 hail reports and 37 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.