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Sauk County, Wisconsin

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

Relatively Low overall risk
22nd of 72highest risk in Wisconsin
$36Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Sauk County, Wisconsin has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 72% of US counties. It ranks 22nd of 72 counties in Wisconsin. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $36 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $541 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (111 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $7.2 million on 198 claims here, including $3.7 million 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 Sauk County

$20.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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
$6.1 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$4.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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 floodingModerate77.5
$20M
Cold waveModerate85.9
$6M
TornadoModerate78.3
$4M
HailModerate92.8
$3M
Heat waveLow67.5
$939K
Strong windModerate58.6
$811K
LightningLow52.7
$298K
Ice stormLow50.3
$99K
Winter weatherLow44.7
$62K
EarthquakeVery Low25.3
$53K
LandslideModerate87.8
$51K
DroughtLow33.2
$40K
WildfireVery Low27.2
$14K
HurricaneVery Low9.0
$2K

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Sauk County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood4
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 18, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor 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 2, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 30, 1992Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 13, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 13
Jul 7, 1978Severe Storms, Flooding, Hail & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Mar 23, 1976Severe Storms, Icing, Wind & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 501 storm reports in Sauk County since 1957, with 1 death and 22 injuries and about $81.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 4, 1994 near Prairie.

24tornadoes
148hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
247damaging thunderstorm winds
60floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 4, 1994F2Prairie0 / 0
Aug 18, 2005F2Leland0 / 0
Aug 15, 1966F2–1 / 0
Jun 26, 1989F2–0 / 0
May 25, 1965F2–8 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 9, 2008Flash FloodLake Delton$37M
Jun 1, 2000Flash FloodCountywide$13M
Jul 4, 1994TornadoPrairie$6M
Aug 29, 2018FloodLa Valle$5M
Aug 18, 2007Flash FloodLimeridge$4M
Jul 10, 2000Flash FloodLimeridge$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 2, 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 Sauk County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (111 policies)
38.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$7.2 millionpaid on 198 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $3.7 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 Sauk County

$258,600median home value (Wisconsin $266,500, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Wisconsin 1975, US 1980)
47%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.8%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; 31,496 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
Dane CountyModerate17
Columbia CountyModerate9
Vernon CountyLow21
Juneau CountyLow14
Iowa CountyVery Low15
Richland CountyLow17

Common questions about Sauk County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Sauk County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Sauk County, about $20.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $6.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Sauk County had?

Sauk County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Sauk County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 22nd 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 Sauk County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Sauk 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 Sauk County had?

NOAA records list 24 tornadoes in Sauk County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 4, 1994 near Prairie. The weather service has also logged 148 hail reports and 60 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.