Natural Disaster Risk in Milwaukee

Natural Hazard Profile: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee, in Milwaukee County, is a city of 58,146 residents situated in the Great Lakes region. Its humid continental climate brings long, cold winters with lake-effect snow and warm summers, and in particular severe blizzards and spring tornado outbreaks. These conditions collectively define the natural hazard environment that Milwaukee residents and property owners must navigate.

Milwaukee's overall natural disaster risk is rated 7.1/10 (High) by FEMA's National Risk Index. Cold wave events are the primary hazard risk, driven by periodic invasions of Arctic air that drive wind chills to life-threatening levels and stress heating systems. Secondary hazards include heat and tornado.

Within Wisconsin, Milwaukee's risk is, considerably above the 5.4/10 state average. Nationally, it ranks well above the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. FEMA's analysis of Milwaukee County identifies cold wave as the foremost hazard, followed by heat and tornado. These rankings reflect the relative frequency and severity of each hazard type in the local environment.

With a high natural disaster risk rating, Milwaukee residents benefit from taking preparedness seriously. Reviewing insurance coverage for cold wave and secondary hazards, registering for emergency alerts, and maintaining a household emergency kit are practical steps that can significantly reduce impact during a major event.