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Richland County, Wisconsin

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

Relatively Low overall risk
46th of 72highest risk in Wisconsin
$13Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$7.9 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
$2.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1 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 floodingLow62.9
$8M
Cold waveModerate75.8
$2M
TornadoLow51.0
$1M
HailModerate84.5
$913K
Heat waveLow65.2
$587K
Strong windLow47.1
$403K
LandslideModerate96.2
$150K
Ice stormLow48.3
$63K
LightningVery Low22.8
$63K
DroughtLow36.0
$36K
Winter weatherLow27.0
$21K
EarthquakeVery Low12.1
$10K
WildfireVery Low14.8
$4K
HurricaneVery Low8.6
$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

Severe Storm10
Flood4
Tornado1
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Oct 18, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Oct 7, 2017Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudMajor disaster
Oct 20, 2016Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 8, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 14, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 26, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 18, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 24, 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 24, 1998Severe Storms,Straigh Line Winds, Tornadoes,Rain,And FloodiMajor disaster
Show all 17
Jul 2, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 30, 1992Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 13, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1978Severe Storms, Flooding, Hail & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Mar 23, 1976Severe Storms, Icing, Wind & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 1965Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

13tornadoes
88hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
117damaging thunderstorm winds
43floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 3, 1964F3–4 / 0
Aug 18, 2005F2Viola3 / 0
May 8, 1964F2–2 / 0
May 8, 1988F2–0 / 0
Jul 3, 1951F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 18, 2007Flash FloodRichland Center$9M
Jun 8, 2008FloodSand Prairie$3M
Jul 20, 2017Flash FloodViola$3M
Jun 8, 2008FloodViola$3M
Aug 18, 2005TornadoViola$3M
Sep 22, 2016Flash FloodViola$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 ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (20 policies)
11.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.2 millionpaid on 95 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $536,175 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 Richland County

$197,500median home value (Wisconsin $266,500, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Wisconsin 1975, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.9%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; 8,532 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
Sauk CountyLow13
Grant CountyLow18
Vernon CountyLow21
Iowa CountyVery Low15
Crawford CountyLow20

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.