Polk County, Wisconsin
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Polk County, Wisconsin has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 63% of US counties. It ranks 34th of 72 counties in Wisconsin. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $23 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $512 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2019 (severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding). Only 39 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $105,000 on 15 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Polk 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 | 55.2 | $8M | ||
| Cold wave | 90.4 | $7M | ||
| Tornado | 76.5 | $3M | ||
| Strong wind | 88.9 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 88.4 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 60.1 | $571K | ||
| Lightning | 71.1 | $513K | ||
| Winter weather | 56.2 | $79K | ||
| Ice storm | 43.6 | $62K | ||
| Wildfire | 41.7 | $29K | ||
| Drought | 27.3 | $17K | ||
| Earthquake | 5.5 | $5K | ||
| Landslide | 19.2 | $107 |
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 relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Polk 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 1952
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 368 storm reports in Polk County since 1952, with 4 deaths and 18 injuries and about $16.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 23, 1952.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 23, 1952 | F3 | – | 6 / 2 |
| Jul 30, 1977 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 10, 1953 | F2 | – | 9 / 2 |
| Jul 10, 1966 | F2 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Jun 12, 1967 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Amery | $4M |
| Jun 23, 1952 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 10, 1953 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jul 30, 1977 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 11, 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Milltown | $800K |
| Jul 19, 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Range | $500K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 19, 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 Polk 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 Polk 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; 24,558 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington County, MN | 15 | |
| St. Croix County | 9 | |
| Chisago County, MN | 10 | |
| Barron County | 8 | |
| Dunn County | 11 | |
| Burnett County | 8 |
Common questions about Polk County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Polk County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Polk County, about $7.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $7.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Polk County had?
Polk County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in August 2019.
Is Polk County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 34th 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 Polk County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Polk 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 Polk County had?
NOAA records list 34 tornadoes in Polk County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 23, 1952. The weather service has also logged 112 hail reports and 8 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.