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Trempealeau County, Wisconsin

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

Relatively Low overall risk
42nd of 72highest risk in Wisconsin
$20Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Trempealeau County, Wisconsin has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 59% of US counties. It ranks 42nd of 72 counties in Wisconsin. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $654 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2017 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mud). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (61 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.6 million on 141 claims here, including $1.1 million for floods in 2017.

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

Top risks in Trempealeau County

$11.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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
$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.7 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 floodingLow67.5
$12M
Cold waveModerate79.1
$3M
TornadoLow59.8
$2M
HailModerate82.8
$1M
Strong windModerate64.5
$816K
LightningModerate76.3
$621K
Heat waveLow60.6
$587K
Ice stormLow46.1
$71K
LandslideModerate90.4
$58K
DroughtLow38.0
$55K
Winter weatherLow42.5
$49K
EarthquakeVery Low5.5
$5K
WildfireVery Low13.2
$4K

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 moderate 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 Trempealeau County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood3
Tornado1
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Oct 7, 2017Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudMajor disaster
Oct 21, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 18, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 2001Flooding, Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 24, 1998Severe Storms,Straigh Line Winds, Tornadoes,Rain,And FloodiMajor disaster
Jul 2, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 30, 1992Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1978Severe Storms, Flooding, Hail & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Show all 13
Sep 15, 1975Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & Flash FloodsMajor disaster
May 1, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 1965Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 575 storm reports in Trempealeau County since 1959, with 5 deaths and 16 injuries and about $45.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 26, 1959.

29tornadoes
207hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
201damaging thunderstorm winds
99floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 26, 1959F3–0 / 0
May 23, 1964F2–0 / 0
Mar 27, 1968F2–1 / 0
Jun 16, 1979F1–0 / 0
Sep 9, 1990F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 23, 2010FloodTrempealeau$7M
Jul 19, 2017Flash FloodRussell$5M
May 2, 2012Thunderstorm WindBlair$4M
Jul 20, 2017FloodRussell$3M
Jun 16, 1979Tornado–$3M
Sep 9, 1990Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 20, 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 Trempealeau County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (61 policies)
8.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.6 millionpaid on 141 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $1.1 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 Trempealeau County

$216,700median home value (Wisconsin $266,500, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Wisconsin 1975, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.7%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; 13,431 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
La Crosse CountyLow16
Eau Claire CountyLow7
Winona County, MNLow15
Jackson CountyLow12
Buffalo CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Trempealeau County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Trempealeau County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Trempealeau County, about $11.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $3.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Trempealeau County had?

Trempealeau County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud in October 2017.

Is Trempealeau County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 42nd 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 Trempealeau County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Trempealeau 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 Trempealeau County had?

NOAA records list 29 tornadoes in Trempealeau County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 26, 1959. The weather service has also logged 207 hail reports and 99 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.