Natural Disasters in Milwaukee, WI

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

88.9

Relatively Moderate

Expected Annual Loss

93.6

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

10.6

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

97.4

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Cold Wave97.4Hail96.1Tornado95.7
HazardRisk Score
Cold Wave97.4
Hail96.1
Tornado95.7
Heat Wave90.4
Winter Weather86.5
Ice Storm81.7
Landslide62.5
Lightning60.2
Earthquake57.4
Strong Wind56.1
Wildfire49.7
Drought31.6
Hurricane9.7

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

21

Most Recent

Flood

Sep 2025

Most Common Type

Flood

7 declarations

DateTypeDeclaration
Sep 11, 2025FloodSEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, AND MUDSLIDES
Apr 4, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19
Mar 11, 2020FloodSEVERE WINTER STORM AND FLOODING
Apr 5, 2011SnowstormSEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM
Aug 11, 2010Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Jun 14, 2008Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Mar 19, 2008SnowstormRECORD SNOW AND NEAR RECORD SNOW
Sep 13, 2005HurricaneHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Jun 18, 2004Severe StormSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Jan 24, 2001SnowstormSNOW
Jun 24, 2000Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Aug 12, 1998Severe StormSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Jul 7, 1997Severe StormSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Jul 2, 1993Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES & FLOODING
Oct 7, 1986FloodSEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Aug 14, 1986FloodSEVERE STORMS
Jan 19, 1979SnowstormBLIZZARDS & SNOWSTORMS
Mar 23, 1976FloodSEVERE STORMS, ICING, WIND & FLOODING
Apr 27, 1973FloodSEVERE STORMS & FLOODING

Showing 20 of 21 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

96,015

Total IA Distributed

$264,678,717

Repair/Replace

$116,605,875

Rental Assistance

$44,266,483

DisasterRegistrationsTotal IA $Avg Damage
DR-17631N/A—
DR-46711N/A—
DR-44021N/A—
DR-489240,405$176,396,514$4,801
DR-193331,543$59,683,585$2,669
DR-176818,100$16,588,831$1,670
DR-45201,723$9,383,819—
DR-15264,240$2,623,968$1,318
DR-16041$2,000—

Individual and household assistance for homeowners and renters affected by federally declared disasters.

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

2,423

Total Claims Paid

$27,720,991

Avg Claim Payout

$11,441

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$84,920,034

Disasters with PA

10

Total Projects

621

DisasterTypeProjectsFederal $
DR-4520Biological38$62,600,039
DR-1933Severe Storm(s)217$10,217,533
DR-1768Severe Storm(s)155$4,503,184
DR-1966Snow50$2,028,173
DR-3285Snow58$1,938,126
DR-3163Snow35$1,487,818
DR-3249Hurricane3$862,853
DR-4477Winter Storm21$726,537
DR-1332Severe Storm(s)42$552,023
DR-1526Severe Storm(s)2$3,748

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

3

Federal Funding

$141,417

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan2$96,417
91.2: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan - NEW1$45,000

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Milwaukee has a relatively moderate overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are cold wave, hail, tornado. The area has had 21 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is flood (7 declarations). 2,423 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $84,920,034 in public assistance recovery funding. $264,678,717 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 3 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.