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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: *Feb. 2, 2026
*Contact: *Sarah Rafajko, DNR State of Wisconsin National Flood Insurance Program Coordinator
[email protected] or 608-893-8710

Prepare For Spring And Summer Storms With Flood Insurance

"Flood Insurance Awareness Week Is Feb. 1-7, 2026"

 

side by side photo of a flooded basement on the left and a main space under construction on the right after flooding

Homeowners and renters are encouraged to explore flood insurance options to protect their homes and personal property. / Photo Credits: Volunteers with Wisconsin Emergency Management and Wisconsin DNR, respectively

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MADISON, Wis.* – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages Wisconsinites to learn about flood risks across the state and available flood insurance options during Flood Insurance Awareness Week, Feb. 1-7, 2026.

According to the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts' 2021 Assessment Report [ [link removed] ], the past decade was the wettest on record. Because flooding has historically been the state’s most common natural hazard, flood insurance can play an important role in helping property owners and renters manage financial impacts.

Wisconsinites can contact their local zoning administrator or search their address on FEMA's Map Service Center [ [link removed] ] to learn about flood risk in their area.

Here are some flood insurance facts:


* Homeowner and renter insurance policies typically do not cover flood damage; a separate flood insurance policy is required.
* Federal flood insurance is available for properties both inside and outside designated Special Flood Hazard Areas [ [link removed] ].
* Federal flood insurance is only offered to residents of communities that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program [ [link removed] ].
* Nationally, on average, *40% of National Flood Insurance Program flood insurance claims come from property owners outside of federally designated flood zones*. Based on data from the southeastern Wisconsin storm event in August 2025, federal individual assistance claims data show *98% of the claims were from outside of the federally designated flood zones*.

Homeowners and renters interested in flood insurance to help protect their homes and personal property are encouraged to contact their local insurance agent to ask whether flood insurance policies are available. If a local insurance agent does not offer federal or private flood insurance, additional information about federal policies is available on the federal Flood Smart website [ [link removed] ].

The DNR’s Floodplain Program oversees community enrollment in the National Flood Insurance Program and provides technical expertise related to federal flood insurance.

“Flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program is one of the tools that builds flood resiliency into our Wisconsin communities,” said Sarah Rafajko, State of Wisconsin National Flood Insurance Program coordinator at the DNR. “Learning about insurance options ahead of time allows residents to make informed decisions.”

Most National Flood Insurance Program policies include a standard 30-day waiting period before coverage begins, so residents should factor this into their planning, particularly ahead of the spring season.

Property owners in Special Flood Hazard Areas who have mortgages from federally regulated lenders are required to carry flood insurance. Those who are not required to have coverage may still want to review their individual flood risk when considering whether or not to purchase a flood insurance policy.

Additional resources on flood insurance and flood risk mitigation are available on the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance's Flood Insurance [ [link removed] ] and Disasters [ [link removed] ] webpages.

“Just 1 inch of water can cause up to $25,000 in damage, which is why it’s important to consider having flood insurance coverage for your property and belongings," said Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Nathan Houdek. "Coverage is available for renters, homeowners and business owners."

More information about flooding and flood insurance can be found on the DNR's Floodplain webpage [ [link removed] ].







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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources · 101 S. Webster Street · Madison, WI 53707-7921 · 608-266-2621 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]
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