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Natural hazards · Racine

Racine, WI natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Racine comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 53 claims here since 1978. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is Racine?

14
Very low
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Racine to be higher than in 14% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding41%Cold waves29%Tornadoes17%Everything else13%
By hazard

What Racine faces

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

Inland flooding

41% of expected damage
Below average · higher than 31% of U.S. places
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

29% of expected damage
Below average · higher than 33% of U.S. places
Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

17% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 64% of U.S. places

Lower here

Coastal floodingHurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Racine flood?

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

53paid claims since 1978
$539Kpaid to owners
2homes flooded more than once
19782026

Biggest named events

  • Storm: 42 claims, $470K
  • Tropical Storm Erin: 1 claim, $4K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
No community discount. Racine isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Racine County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1storm safe rooms built
Disasters that hit Racine

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into RacineDeclared for Racine County only
2026

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

472 households applied for aid $464K aid approved
2020

Severe Winter Storm and Flooding

$425K to the City of Racine for repairs
2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

411 households applied for aid $600K aid approved $133K to the City of Racine for repairs
2008

Record Snow and Near Record Snow

$93K to the City of Racine for repairs
2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

130 households applied for aid $71K aid approved
2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

90 households applied for aid $106K aid approved
2000

Snow

$69K to the City of Racine for repairs
Racine County has had 15 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.
Around Racine

Racine and the towns around it

Mount Pleasant: Very low, mostly inland floodingCaledonia: Very low, mostly inland floodingElmwood Park: Low, mostly inland floodingNorth Bay: Very low, mostly cold wavesYorkville: Very low, mostly inland floodingSomers: Very low, mostly inland floodingOak Creek: Very low, mostly cold wavesWind Point: Very low, mostly inland floodingRaymond: Very low, mostly inland floodingRacine: Very low, mostly inland flooding RacineMount PleasantCaledoniaElmwood ParkNorth Bay
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
Elmwood Parkmostly inland floodingLow
Racinemostly inland floodingVery low
Mount Pleasantmostly inland floodingVery low
Caledoniamostly inland floodingVery low
North Baymostly 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. Racine covers 17 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Racine’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Racine. 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 Racine total about $17.5M 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.

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