Natural Disaster Risk in Jackson County

Natural Hazard Profile: Jackson County, Wisconsin

Jackson County is located in the United States in Wisconsin, home to roughly 21,028 residents. The county experiences long, cold winters with lake-effect snow and warm summers, with severe blizzards and spring tornado outbreaks shaping the natural hazards faced by its communities. FEMA assesses risk at this county level, providing the baseline for every city and ZIP code within its boundaries.

FEMA rates Jackson County's composite natural disaster risk at 5.4 out of 10 — moderate risk. The area faces significant landslide risk, where mountainous topography and saturated soils during wet periods combine to create hazardous mass movement conditions. Residents should also account for cold wave and hail risk in their preparedness planning.

Jackson County's risk score, near the 5.4/10 state average and above the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Jackson County, the highest-scoring are landslide, cold wave, and hail. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

Jackson County's moderate risk profile means that while catastrophic events are less frequent, they do occur. Standard homeowners insurance typically covers many common hazards here, but confirming that landslide exposure is adequately protected is a worthwhile step for property owners.