Natural hazards · Sparta

Sparta, WI natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Sparta comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1978. 3 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Sparta?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Sparta to be higher than in 52% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding41%Cold waves39%Tornadoes9%Everything else12%

By hazard

What Sparta 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

Above average · higher than 70% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Cold waves

39% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

9% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong 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 Sparta flood?

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

2paid claims since 1978

$3Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19782026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Monroe County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

6flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Sparta

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into SpartaDeclared for Monroe County only

2018

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

53 households applied for aid $293K aid approved

2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

19 households applied for aid $19K aid approved

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

38 households applied for aid $69K aid approved $5K to the City of Sparta for repairs

Monroe County has had 13 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Sparta

Sparta and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Angelomostly inland floodingModerate

Spartamostly inland floodingModerate

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. Sparta covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Sparta’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Sparta. 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 Sparta total about $2.5M 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.