Kewaunee County, WI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Kewaunee County has experienced 8 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Kewaunee County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, hail, and lightning, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 73% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (1st percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Kewaunee County has been designated in 8 declarations since 1973, covering 6 disaster types including flood (2), biological (2), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2001 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 1990 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1976 | Drought | Drought |
| 1973 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 9.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 24.4 | 15 | 0 | $122K |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 30.2 | 2 | 0 | $20K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 12.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 19.6 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 39.7 | 1 | 0 | $25K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 16.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 63.3 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 33.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 20.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 13.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 66.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 41.1 | 2 | 0 | $125K |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 28 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Insufficient Data | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Kewaunee County ranks in the 1st percentile (Very low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 1st | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 1st | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 11th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 12th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 2nd | Very low |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 6th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 5th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 42.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 28 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 22 in 2016–20 vs 6 in 2021–25 (-73% — frequency decreasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Kewaunee County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin are cold wave, hail, and lightning. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Kewaunee County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Kewaunee County has received 8 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is flood (2 declarations).
Has Kewaunee County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Kewaunee County include Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1973.
How does Kewaunee County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Brown County, WI has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Calumet County, WI has the lowest (Very Low). Kewaunee County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Kewaunee County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Kewaunee County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Kewaunee County's composite score of 17 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 17% of US counties.