Ozaukee County, Wisconsin
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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 | 58.3 | $17M | ||
| Cold wave | 82.8 | $9M | ||
| Tornado | 59.3 | $3M | ||
| Hail | 71.2 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 56.0 | $994K | ||
| Strong wind | 31.0 | $608K | ||
| Lightning | 41.4 | $344K | ||
| Winter weather | 44.2 | $107K | ||
| Earthquake | 26.4 | $103K | ||
| Ice storm | 20.6 | $34K | ||
| Wildfire | 19.5 | $15K | ||
| Drought | 21.5 | $12K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 31.0 | $11K | ||
| Hurricane | 7.5 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 15.4 | $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
Most recent
Show all 11
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 22, 1964 | F4 | – | 30 / 0 |
| Jul 18, 1996 | F1 | Fredonia | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 10, 2015 | EF0 | Freistadt | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 18, 1996 | F0 | Port Washington Arpt | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 2006 | Hail | Saukville | $6M |
| Jun 18, 1996 | Flash Flood | Port Washington | $5M |
| May 31, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $4M |
| Jun 21, 1997 | Flash Flood | Mequon | $4M |
| Aug 22, 1964 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 18, 1996 | Flash Flood | Belgium | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee County | 20 | |
| Waukesha County | 17 | |
| Muskegon County, MI | 12 | |
| Washington County | 12 | |
| Sheboygan County | 9 | |
| Oceana County, MI | 11 |
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.