Natural hazards · Manitowoc

Manitowoc, WI natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Manitowoc comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1979. 3 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Manitowoc?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Manitowoc to be higher than in 21% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding47%Cold waves18%Tornadoes13%Hail12%Heat waves6%Everything else5%

By hazard

What Manitowoc faces

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

Inland flooding

47% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 35% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Cold waves

18% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 21% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

13% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 66% of U.S. places

Hail

12% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 89% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Heat waves

6% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingHurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

DroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Manitowoc flood?

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

4paid claims since 1979

$43Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

March 2019 Midwest Flooding: 1 claim, $10K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Manitowoc County.

Disasters that hit Manitowoc

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into ManitowocDeclared for Manitowoc County only

2026

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

14 households applied for aid $52K aid approved

2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

87 households applied for aid $77K aid approved

2000

Snow

$48K to the City of Manitowoc for repairs

Manitowoc County has had 7 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and severe storms.

Around Manitowoc

Manitowoc and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Manitowoc Rapidsmostly inland floodingLow

Two Riversmostly inland floodingLow

Manitowocmostly inland floodingLow

Two Riversmostly inland floodingVery low

Manitowocmostly inland floodingVery low

Newtonmostly 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. Manitowoc covers 4 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Manitowoc’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Manitowoc. 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 Manitowoc total about $6.2M 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.