Natural hazards · Fitchburg

Fitchburg, WI natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Fitchburg comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2017. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Fitchburg?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Fitchburg to be higher than in 9% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding42%Cold waves28%Tornadoes13%Hail7%Heat waves5%Everything else4%

By hazard

What Fitchburg faces

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

Inland flooding

42% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 16% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

28% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 55% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

13% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 68% of U.S. places

Hail

7% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Heat waves

5% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 73% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong 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 Fitchburg flood?

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

2paid claims since 2017

$24Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20172026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Fitchburg 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 Fitchburg

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into FitchburgDeclared for Dane County only

2018

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

5 households applied for aid $6K aid approved $12K to the City of Fitchburg for repairs

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$21K to the City of Fitchburg for repairs

2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

25 households applied for aid $28K aid approved $14K to the City of Fitchburg for repairs

2008

Record Snow and Near Record Snow

$43K to the City of Fitchburg for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

7 households applied for aid $7K aid approved

2000

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

$44K to the City of Fitchburg for repairs

Dane County has had 17 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and winter storms.

Around Fitchburg

Fitchburg and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Dunnmostly inland floodingLow

Veronamostly inland floodingVery low

Madisonmostly inland floodingVery low

Fitchburgmostly inland floodingVery low

Blooming Grovemostly cold wavesVery 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. Fitchburg covers 6 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Fitchburg’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Fitchburg. 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 Fitchburg total about $9.5M 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.