Natural hazards · Markesan

Markesan, WI natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Markesan comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 2008. 2 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Markesan?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Markesan to be higher than in 31% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding44%Tornadoes18%Cold waves15%Hail14%Strong wind6%Everything else4%

By hazard

What Markesan faces

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

Inland flooding

44% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 33% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Tornadoes

18% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 12 years in the area

Cold waves

15% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 34% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Hail

14% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 94% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Strong wind

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 83% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightningDrought

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 Markesan flood?

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

5paid claims since 2008

$24Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20082026

Biggest named events

Storm: 3 claims, $19K
March 2019 Midwest Flooding: 1 claim, $4K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Green Lake County.

Disasters that hit Markesan

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into MarkesanDeclared for Green Lake County only

2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

88 households applied for aid $129K aid approved $67K to the City of Markesan for repairs

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

22 households applied for aid $12K aid approved $1K to the City of Markesan for repairs

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

Around Markesan

Markesan and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Markesanmostly inland floodingLow

Mackfordmostly inland floodingLow

Green Lakemostly inland floodingLow

Manchestermostly inland floodingLow

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. Markesan covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Markesan’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Markesan. 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 Markesan total about $3.0M 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.