Protect Yourself and Your Family from Flooding
Protect your loved ones, your property and your community from flooding -- a natural disaster that's occurred in every Wisconsin county in the last 25 years and is likely again in southern Wisconsin in 2009.
Flooding can have a devastating effect on your life and property. Take steps to minimize your risks now.
Drowning, getting swept away, infection with a waterborne disease and costly structural damage are all common threats from flooding and its aftermath.
Learn now whether you and your family live or own property in a flood-prone area. Even areas that you may think have a low risk of flooding could have problems.
Assess Your Risk from Flooding
Learn now whether you and your family live or own property in a flood-prone area. Even areas that you may think have a low risk of flooding could have problems. Fully 25 percent of the claims paid by the federal flood insurance program are for properties in low-risk areas.
You are at risk of suffering flooding if you live:
- in an area mapped as a floodplain
- near a stream, river or lake that has not been mapped
- in an area where the water table is already high and flooded basements are occurring
- in an area where flooding has occurred in the past
How Do I Know if My Property is on a FEMA Floodplain map?
The easiest way to learn if you are in a flood-prone area is to call your local government and ask them to check the FEMA floodplain maps for you.
- Contact your county or city/village zoning administrator. See Wisconsin County Code Administrators directory [exit DNR]
- Find city and village contact information, see Wisconsin Cities, Towns and Villages [exit DNR]
Or, review online FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) which depicts areas deemed at risk of flooding.
Flood Insurance Rate Map [exit DNR]
| Prepare for Flooding | What to Do During and After Flooding |
|---|---|
|
The best preparation is to avoid buying property in a floodplain. If it's too late for that, take steps now to protect your family's safety and reduce damages from flooding. |
If flooding is occurring in your area, take these steps immediately:
|
Fast Facts
- 7 people have died and 13 been injured during floods since 1982.
- 19 counties have suffered more than 20 floods since 1982.
- The estimated $765 million in damages from June 2008 floods set a record
- 40,814 Wisconsin households registered for federal disaster assistance in 2008.
- Only 15,000 homes and businesses have flood insurance, among the lower rates in the nation.
Flood Related News
- Floodplain map Open House at Lancaster on Nov. 17
Issued by DNR South Central Region on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 4:50:12 PM - Still time to enjoy a colorful Autumn in Wisconsin
Issued by DNR Central Office on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 1:24:32 PM - Herd estimates, treestand safety and some history with a mystery
Issued by DNR Central Office on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 1:00:23 PM - Drinking water report: 96 percent of public systems meet all health-based standards
Issued by DNR Central Office on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 12:46:36 PM - Applications now being accepted for two dam grant programs
Issued by DNR Central Office on Tuesday, September 08, 2009 at 1:02:44 PM
Last Revised: Thursday, March 26, 2009
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