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Winnebago County, Wisconsin

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
6th of 72highest risk in Wisconsin
$75Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Winnebago County, Wisconsin has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 87% of US counties. It ranks 6th of 72 counties in Wisconsin. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $75 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $439 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (severe storms and tornadoes). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (413 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.0 million on 215 claims here, including $2.4 million for floods in 2008.

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

Top risks in Winnebago County

$42.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$14.1 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.
$9.4 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 floodingModerate89.3
$43M
Cold waveHigh95.3
$14M
TornadoHigh91.3
$9M
Strong windHigh94.4
$3M
HailModerate93.8
$3M
Heat waveLow75.0
$1M
LightningHigh82.9
$989K
Winter weatherModerate77.7
$218K
EarthquakeVery Low33.0
$116K
Ice stormLow49.8
$99K
WildfireVery Low40.2
$31K
DroughtVery Low26.1
$18K
HurricaneVery Low16.9
$5K
LandslideVery Low21.3
$157

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 Winnebago County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm4
Tornado2
Flood2
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Oct 7, 2026Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 14, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 18, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 2001Flooding, Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 2, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 13, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 26, 1974TornadoesMajor 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 408 storm reports in Winnebago County since 1959, with 3 deaths and 157 injuries and about $154 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 27, 1984.

32tornadoes
143hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
195damaging thunderstorm winds
15floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 27, 1984F4–10 / 1
Apr 21, 1974F4–35 / 0
Jul 27, 2026EF3Appleton94 / 0
May 8, 1964F2–5 / 0
Apr 10, 2011EF1Lake Poygan0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 27, 2026TornadoAppleton$88M
Jun 12, 2008Flash FloodOshkosh$23M
May 12, 2000HailOmro$10M
Jul 20, 2010HailMenasha$9M
Apr 10, 2011Thunderstorm WindNeenah$5M
Jun 11, 2001Thunderstorm WindOmro$5M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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 Winnebago County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (413 policies)
20.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4 millionpaid on 215 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $2.4 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 Winnebago County

$225,800median home value (Wisconsin $266,500, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Wisconsin 1975, US 1980)
57%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.8%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; 77,318 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
Outagamie CountyLow10
Fond du Lac CountyLow10
Calumet CountyVery Low9
Waupaca CountyLow9
Waushara CountyLow8
Green Lake CountyLow7

Cities in Winnebago County

Common questions about Winnebago County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Winnebago County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Winnebago County, about $42.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $14.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Winnebago County had?

Winnebago County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Tornadoes in October 2026.

Is Winnebago County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 6th 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 Winnebago County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Winnebago 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 Winnebago County had?

NOAA records list 32 tornadoes in Winnebago County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 27, 1984. The weather service has also logged 143 hail reports and 15 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.