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Sheboygan County, Wisconsin

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

Relatively Low overall risk
25th of 72highest risk in Wisconsin
$36Mexpected losses a year
9federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Sheboygan County, Wisconsin has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 70% of US counties. It ranks 25th 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 $309 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2008 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (113 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $551,000 on 52 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Sheboygan County

$17.7 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
$7.2 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$6.4 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 floodingLow71.8
$18M
Cold waveModerate87.2
$7M
TornadoModerate84.4
$6M
HailModerate91.2
$2M
Heat waveLow68.0
$1M
Strong windLow48.5
$664K
LightningModerate63.1
$474K
Winter weatherModerate67.0
$147K
EarthquakeVery Low30.7
$104K
Ice stormVery Low23.9
$28K
WildfireVery Low27.1
$15K
HurricaneVery Low21.5
$9K
Coastal floodingVery Low27.0
$4K
LandslideVery Low46.1
$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 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 Sheboygan County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood3
Severe Storm3
Tornado1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 14, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 18, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2001SnowEmergency
Aug 12, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 7, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 23, 1976Severe Storms, Icing, Wind & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & 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 283 storm reports in Sheboygan County since 1957, with 1 death and 11 injuries and about $49.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 21, 1974.

10tornadoes
80hail reports, largest 3 inches
145damaging thunderstorm winds
29floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 21, 1974F3–7 / 1
Jul 16, 2008EF1Sheboygan Co Ar0 / 0
Jul 18, 1996F1Beechwood0 / 0
Aug 8, 1966F1–1 / 0
Jul 26, 1987F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 6, 1998Flash FloodSheboygan$40M
Apr 21, 1974Tornado–$3M
Aug 28, 2018Thunderstorm WindParnell$1M
May 31, 1998Thunderstorm WindCountywide$792K
Jun 12, 2008Flash FloodWaldo$702K
Apr 7, 2001Thunderstorm WindGreenbush$400K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 1, 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 Sheboygan County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (113 policies)
19.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$551,480paid on 52 flood claims since 1978
2020costliest year, with $181,168 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 Sheboygan County

$232,700median home value (Wisconsin $266,500, US $332,700)
1970median year homes were built (Wisconsin 1975, US 1980)
64%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.2%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; 53,067 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
Washington CountyLow12
Fond du Lac CountyLow10
Ozaukee CountyLow11
Manitowoc CountyLow7
Calumet CountyVery Low9
Mason County, MIVery Low7
Oceana County, MIVery Low11

Cities in Sheboygan County

Common questions about Sheboygan County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Sheboygan County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Sheboygan County, about $17.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $7.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Sheboygan County had?

Sheboygan County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2008.

Is Sheboygan County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 25th 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 Sheboygan County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Sheboygan 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 Sheboygan County had?

NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Sheboygan County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 21, 1974. The weather service has also logged 80 hail reports and 29 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.