Richland County, Wisconsin
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Richland County, Wisconsin has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 52% of US counties. It ranks 46th of 72 counties in Wisconsin. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $777 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2018 (severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, flooding and landslides). Only 20 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.2 million on 95 claims here, including $536,000 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 Richland 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 | 62.9 | $8M | ||
| Cold wave | 75.8 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 51.0 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 84.5 | $913K | ||
| Heat wave | 65.2 | $587K | ||
| Strong wind | 47.1 | $403K | ||
| Landslide | 96.2 | $150K | ||
| Ice storm | 48.3 | $63K | ||
| Lightning | 22.8 | $63K | ||
| Drought | 36.0 | $36K | ||
| Winter weather | 27.0 | $21K | ||
| Earthquake | 12.1 | $10K | ||
| Wildfire | 14.8 | $4K | ||
| Hurricane | 8.6 | $1K |
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 Richland County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 17
Wisconsin also had 8 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1951
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 266 storm reports in Richland County since 1951, with 1 death and 9 injuries and about $33.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on September 3, 1964.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 3, 1964 | F3 | – | 4 / 0 |
| Aug 18, 2005 | F2 | Viola | 3 / 0 |
| May 8, 1964 | F2 | – | 2 / 0 |
| May 8, 1988 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 3, 1951 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18, 2007 | Flash Flood | Richland Center | $9M |
| Jun 8, 2008 | Flood | Sand Prairie | $3M |
| Jul 20, 2017 | Flash Flood | Viola | $3M |
| Jun 8, 2008 | Flood | Viola | $3M |
| Aug 18, 2005 | Tornado | Viola | $3M |
| Sep 22, 2016 | Flash Flood | Viola | $2M |
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 Richland 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 Richland 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; 8,532 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sauk County | 13 | |
| Grant County | 18 | |
| Vernon County | 21 | |
| Iowa County | 15 | |
| Crawford County | 20 |
Common questions about Richland County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Richland County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Richland County, about $7.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $2.2 million.
How many federal disasters has Richland County had?
Richland County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides in October 2018.
Is Richland County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 46th 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 Richland County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Richland 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 Richland County had?
NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Richland County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on September 3, 1964. The weather service has also logged 88 hail reports and 43 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.