Milwaukee County hazard data

Milwaukee, WI Disaster Risk

FEMA rates relative cold wave risk for Milwaukee County as very high and reports FEMA annualized frequency of 0.578 per year for the area.

#1 of 8 covered Wisconsin cities for cold wave risk β†’FEMA relative score 100.0/100 Β· county scale

FEMA summary

Milwaukee's cold wave risk is very high at county scale.

FEMA's profile for Milwaukee County reports FEMA annualized frequency of 0.578 per year for cold wave. FEMA's relative risk rating for the area is very high; the annualized frequency is a separate measure.

Hazard metrics cover FEMA county-equivalent geographies rather than individual addresses or parcels. Use local or state hazard maps before making a property, insurance, retrofit, or evacuation decision.

FEMA annualized frequency

0.578 per year

View hazard details ↓
FEMA area population
939,336
Data geography
County equivalent
FEMA relative score
100.0/100
FEMA source
v1.19.0

Explore hazards

Select a hazard to inspect FEMA's figures for Milwaukee County.

FEMA NRI profile

Cold Wave

Very High

FEMA combines its area-wide loss estimate and community data in this relative rating. Event frequency appears separately below.

Relative FEMA score

100.0/100

FEMA annualized frequency
0.578 per year
FEMA area loss estimate
$13M
Recorded events
9

How to read this

Occurrence thresholds vary by hazard. The FEMA methodology defines the value for each hazard.

The area loss estimate combines FEMA's modeled losses to buildings, population, and agriculture across Milwaukee County. It is not an estimate for a home or address.

City risk summary

Cold wave risk in Milwaukee

For Milwaukee, FEMA rates cold wave risk for Milwaukee County as very high, with a relative score of 100.0/100. The next highest relative scores are heat wave at 99.3/100 and tornado at 98.8/100.

Using FEMA data for Milwaukee County, Milwaukee is #1 among 8 covered Wisconsin entries for cold wave risk. Racine is about 25 straight-line miles from the Milwaukee map point; its FEMA figures cover Racine County.

What to check for cold wave

  • βœ“Check the heating system, insulation, and pipe protection at the property.
  • βœ“Choose a safe backup heat source and install the required alarms.
  • βœ“Plan where the household can stay during a prolonged heat or power outage.

Household preparation

Official guidance β†—

For homeowners and movers

  • βœ“Confirm the exact hazard using official local maps before making property or insurance decisions.
  • βœ“Review policy exclusions, deductibles, and temporary-living coverage with a licensed professional.
  • βœ“Keep inspections, inventories, and critical documents in a secure location you can access after an emergency.

Preparedness actions

  • βœ“Know how local officials issue warnings and evacuation instructions.
  • βœ“Maintain water, food, lighting, medications, and communications for several days.
  • βœ“Create a household communication plan and practice it before an emergency.
Build your household checklist
Brownstone apartment buildings
Urban Survival

The Apartment Fortress

Living in Milwaukee? Learn how to handle water storage, sanitation, and security in a small space.

Read the Guide β†’

Where this profile applies

The map shows Milwaukee. All FEMA figures on this page cover Milwaukee County.

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City
Milwaukee, WI
FEMA data area
Milwaukee County
County FIPS
55079

Questions about disaster risk in Milwaukee

The FEMA figures cover Milwaukee County. Address-level conditions require local maps, building records, and property details.

How much cold wave risk does Milwaukee, WI have?

FEMA rates relative cold wave risk for Milwaukee County as very high. Its FEMA annualized frequency is 0.578 per year. Damage at a specific address also depends on the building, soil, elevation, and exact hazard zone.

Where does Milwaukee rank for cold wave risk in Wisconsin?

Among 8 Wisconsin cities covered by this directory, Milwaukee is #1 for relative cold wave risk based on FEMA's score for Milwaukee County. Homes within Milwaukee can have different soil, elevation, construction, and hazard-zone conditions.

Which natural hazards rank highest around Milwaukee?

In FEMA's data for Milwaukee County, the highest relative ratings are Cold Wave (Very High), Heat Wave (Relatively High), and Tornado (Relatively High). FEMA uses estimated losses and community data along with event frequency when assigning these ratings.

Are the disaster-risk numbers for Milwaukee or Milwaukee County?

The hazard numbers cover Milwaukee County. For an individual home, check local fault, flood, fire, evacuation, and building records for the exact address.

Is Milwaukee safe from natural disasters?

FEMA gives Milwaukee County an overall relative risk rating of relatively moderate. Conditions at a specific home depend on its hazard zones, building type, maintenance, insurance, and access to evacuation routes and emergency services.

What should a household in Milwaukee do first for cold wave preparedness?

Start with this step: Confirm the exact hazard using official local maps before making property or insurance decisions. Know how local officials issue warnings and evacuation instructions. Use Ready.gov Be Informed and local emergency guidance for a complete plan.

Nearby city comparisons

Distances are measured between city coordinates.

CityDistanceCold Wave ratingRelative score
Racine, WI25 miRelatively High91.5
Kenosha, WI33 miVery High96.6
Round Lake Beach, IL48 miVery High99.9
Waukegan, IL48 miVery High99.9
Madison, WI72 miVery High97.6

Relevant preparedness gear

Limited to products tagged for cold wave or general preparedness.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site may earn from qualifying purchases.

Leatherman Wave+ Multi-Tool

Tools

Leatherman Wave+ Multi-Tool

18 tools in one. Essential for turning off gas valves or making repairs.

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Anker PowerCore 10K

Power

Anker PowerCore 10K

Pocket-sized power to keep your phone alive for emergency calls.

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ARCA PET Cat & Dog First Aid Kit

Pets

ARCA PET Cat & Dog First Aid Kit

Comprehensive kit for pets. Includes muzzle, thermometer, and bandages.

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Data sources

Hazard metrics come from FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 (March 2023). City population and coordinates come from SimpleMaps US Cities Database. For current conditions, use official local maps, warnings, inspections, and professional advice.