Waupaca County, WI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Waupaca County has experienced 11 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Waupaca County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, hail, and lightning, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 61% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (11th 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. Waupaca County has been designated in 11 declarations since 1973, covering 6 disaster types including flood (4), biological (2), severe storm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2002 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| 2001 | Flood | Flooding, Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| 1993 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1976 | Drought | Drought |
Showing the 10 most recent of 11 total declarations since 1973.
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 | 40.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 66.3 | 5 | 0 | $349K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 19.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 54.6 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 76.8 | 7 | 0 | $600K |
| Hurricane | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 88.6 | 31 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 66.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 60.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 42.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 91.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 79.5 | 2 | 0 | $270K |
| Drought | Very Low | 16.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 61.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| 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
Waupaca County ranks in the 11th 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 | 11th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 10th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 21st | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 13th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 29th | 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 | 22nd | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 22nd | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 60.3% | — |
NOAA tracked 47 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 18 in 2016–20 vs 29 in 2021–25 (+61% — frequency increasing).
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 Waupaca County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Waupaca County, Wisconsin are cold wave, hail, and lightning. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Waupaca County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Waupaca County has received 11 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is flood (4 declarations).
Has Waupaca County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Waupaca County include Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1973.
How does Waupaca County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Winnebago County, WI has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Menominee County, WI has the lowest (Very Low). Waupaca County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Waupaca County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Waupaca 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. Waupaca County's composite score of 68 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 68% of US counties.