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Natural hazards · Watertown

Watertown, WI natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Watertown comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 19 claims here since 1979. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is Watertown?

21
Low
vs. U.S. communities

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

Inland flooding44%Cold waves20%Tornadoes19%Hail7%Everything else11%
By hazard

What Watertown 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 31% of U.S. places
Recorded about once a year in the area

Cold waves

20% of expected damage
Below average · higher than 33% of U.S. places
Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

19% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 80% of U.S. places

Hail

7% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 88% of U.S. places
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesIce 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 Watertown flood?

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

19paid claims since 1979
$698Kpaid to owners
0homes flooded more than once
19792026

Biggest named events

  • Storm: 3 claims, $52K
  • 2026-04-Flooding: 1 claim, $17K
of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
🏷️ 15% off flood insurance. Watertown is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Jefferson County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

3flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters that hit Watertown

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WatertownDeclared for Jefferson County only
2026

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

28 households applied for aid $69K aid approved $35K to the City of Watertown for repairs
2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

489 households applied for aid $1.4M aid approved $148K to the City of Watertown for repairs
2008

Record Snow and Near Record Snow

$30K to the City of Watertown for repairs
2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

20 households applied for aid $29K aid approved
2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

19 households applied for aid $12K aid approved
Jefferson County has had 12 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.
Around Watertown

Watertown and the towns around it

Watertown: Low, mostly inland floodingEmmet: Very low, mostly inland floodingMilford: Low, mostly inland floodingFarmington: Low, mostly inland floodingIxonia: Low, mostly inland floodingShields: Very low, mostly inland floodingLebanon: Low, mostly inland floodingClyman: Very low, mostly inland floodingHustisford: Low, mostly inland floodingLowell: Low, mostly inland floodingWatertown: Low, mostly inland flooding WatertownWatertownEmmet
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
Watertownmostly inland floodingLow
Watertownmostly inland floodingLow
Emmetmostly 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. Watertown covers 6 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Watertown’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Watertown. 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 Watertown total about $8.4M 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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