Natural hazards · Wisconsin Dells

Wisconsin Dells, WI natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Wisconsin Dells comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Wisconsin Dells?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Wisconsin Dells to be higher than in 23% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding45%Cold waves21%Tornadoes17%Hail9%Everything else7%

By hazard

What Wisconsin Dells faces

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

Inland flooding

45% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 31% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

21% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 35% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

17% of expected damage

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

Hail

9% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 92% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 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 Wisconsin Dells flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Wisconsin Dells.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Sauk County.

Disasters that hit Wisconsin Dells

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into Wisconsin DellsDeclared for Sauk County only

2026

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

2 households applied for aid

2018

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

11 households applied for aid $7K aid approved

2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

101 households applied for aid $262K aid approved $92K to the City of Wisconsin Dells for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

1 household applied for aid $634 aid approved

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

30 households applied for aid $32K aid approved

2000

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

$12K to the City of Wisconsin Dells for repairs

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

Around Wisconsin Dells

Wisconsin Dells and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Newportmostly hailHigh

Lyndonmostly inland floodingModerate

Dell Prairiemostly inland floodingModerate

Deltonmostly inland floodingModerate

Lake Deltonmostly inland floodingLow

Wisconsin Dellsmostly 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. Wisconsin Dells covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Wisconsin Dells’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Wisconsin Dells. 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 Wisconsin Dells total about $684K 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.