Natural hazards · Elkhorn

Elkhorn, WI natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Elkhorn comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Elkhorn?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Elkhorn to be higher than in 12% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding35%Cold waves23%Tornadoes22%Hail7%Everything else12%

By hazard

What Elkhorn faces

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

Inland flooding

35% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 15% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Cold waves

23% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 31% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

22% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 78% of U.S. places

Hail

7% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 88% 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 Elkhorn flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Elkhorn.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Elkhorn isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Walworth County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

5flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Elkhorn

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into ElkhornDeclared for Walworth County only

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$32K to the City of Elkhorn for repairs

2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

49 households applied for aid $100K aid approved

2008

Record Snow and Near Record Snow

$22K to the City of Elkhorn for repairs

2000

Snow

$10K to the City of Elkhorn for repairs

Walworth County has had 11 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often winter storms and severe storms.

Around Elkhorn

Elkhorn and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Sugar Creekmostly inland floodingLow

Lafayettemostly inland floodingLow

Genevamostly inland floodingVery low

Elkhornmostly inland floodingVery low

Delavanmostly 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. Elkhorn covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Elkhorn’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Elkhorn. 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 Elkhorn total about $2.7M 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.