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Natural hazards · DeForest

DeForest, WI natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in DeForest comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1993. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations
Expected damage

How exposed is DeForest?

39
Low
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in DeForest to be higher than in 39% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding58%Cold waves19%Tornadoes12%Hail5%Everything else6%
By hazard

What DeForest faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

58% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 60% of U.S. places
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

19% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 55% of U.S. places
Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

12% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. places

Hail

5% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 86% of U.S. places
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Flood insurance claims

Does DeForest flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in DeForest, from FEMA’s records.

5paid claims since 1993
$38Kpaid to owners
1homes flooded more than once
19932026

Biggest named events

  • Storm: 2 claims, $12K
  • March 2019 Midwest Flooding: 1 claim, $17K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
No community discount. DeForest isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Dane County.
Disasters that hit DeForest

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in DeForest itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Village of DeForest.

Brought FEMA money into DeForestDeclared for Dane County only
2018

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides

3 households applied for aid $1K aid approved
2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$22K to the Village of DeForest for repairs
2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

$5K to the Village of DeForest for repairs
2008

Record Snow and Near Record Snow

$12K to the Village of DeForest for repairs
2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

2 households applied for aid $5K aid approved
2000

Snow

$4K to the Village of DeForest for repairs
2000

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

$5K to the Village of DeForest for repairs
Dane County has had 17 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and winter storms.
Around DeForest

DeForest and the towns around it

Burke: Very low, mostly inland floodingVienna: Very low, mostly inland floodingWindsor: Low, mostly inland floodingMadison: Very low, mostly inland floodingSun Prairie: Very low, mostly inland floodingSun Prairie: Very low, mostly inland floodingArlington: Very high, mostly inland floodingDane: Very low, mostly inland floodingWestport: Low, mostly inland floodingBristol: Low, mostly inland floodingLeeds: High, mostly hailDeForest: Low, mostly inland flooding DeForestBurkeViennaWindsor
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
DeForestmostly inland floodingLow
Windsormostly inland floodingLow
Viennamostly inland floodingVery low
Burkemostly inland floodingVery low
About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.
Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. DeForest covers 1 census tract, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to DeForest’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Village of DeForest. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across DeForest total about $2.3M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01
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