Natural hazards · Menasha

Menasha, WI natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Menasha comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1978. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Menasha?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Menasha to be higher than in 55% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding56%Cold waves20%Tornadoes12%Everything else11%

By hazard

What Menasha faces

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

Inland flooding

56% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 76% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Cold waves

20% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 26% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

12% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 69% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Menasha flood?

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

4paid claims since 1978

$8Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19782026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Winnebago County.

Disasters that hit Menasha

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into MenashaDeclared for Winnebago County only

2026

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

56 households applied for aid $198K aid approved

2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

16 households applied for aid $19K aid approved $10K to the City of Menasha for repairs

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

8 households applied for aid $12K aid approved $1K to the City of Menasha for repairs

2001

Flooding, Severe Storms and Tornadoes

$182K to the City of Menasha for repairs

Winnebago County has had 9 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Menasha

Menasha and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Neenahmostly inland floodingHigh

Menashamostly inland floodingModerate

Fox Crossingmostly inland floodingModerate

Harrisonmostly inland floodingVery low

Appletonmostly 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. Menasha covers 5 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Menasha’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Menasha. 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 Menasha 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.