Hazard Plain Automated baseline

Rusk County, WI

Risk-assessment baseline packet

County FIPS:
55107
Release:
2026-10
Data as of:
2026-09-30
Storm Events data through:
2026-06-30

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA or any state agency.

Hazard Plain release 2026-10, as of 2026-09-30.

Summary

Plan status as of 2026-09-30: Expired on 2026-06-06. Plan: Rusk County (FEMA plan 106781), approved 2021-06-07.

Since the plan was approved on 2021-06-07: no new hazard declaration and 48 NOAA Storm Events records; details under "What changed since your last plan".

Highest expected annual loss (FEMA National Risk Index, modeled total; see B1-a): Inland Flooding ($5,058,136 a year), Cold Wave ($4,066,082) and Tornado ($588,574).

The tables that follow are organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B (B1-a to B2-c); each heading says which item its tables support.

Plan clock

Status:
Expired on 2026-06-06
Plan:
Rusk County (FEMA plan 106781)
Approved:
2021-06-07
Days since expiry:
116
Update underway:
none recorded in FEMA's plan tracker

Until a new plan is approved, FEMA mitigation project grants (HMGP, FMA) need a FEMA exception (44 CFR 201.6(a)(3)).

What changed since your last plan (approved 2021-06-07)

New federal declarations:
none
Storm Events records since approval:
48 records (data through 2026-06-30)
Repetitive loss now:
FMA RL 0, SRL 0 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 2
Repeat-flood change:
this release sets the baseline count.

Sources: 1, 2, 4, 6 (numbered list at the end)

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county

Source: 1

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiry
Rusk CountyCountyExpired on 2026-06-06Rusk County (FEMA plan 106781)2021-06-072026-06-06-116
Bruce villageVillageExpired on 2026-06-06Rusk County (FEMA plan 106781)2021-06-072026-06-06-116
Conrath villageVillageExpired on 2026-06-06Rusk County (FEMA plan 106781)2021-06-072026-06-06-116
Glen Flora villageVillageExpired on 2026-06-06Rusk County (FEMA plan 106781)2021-06-072026-06-06-116
Hawkins villageVillageExpired on 2026-06-06Rusk County (FEMA plan 106781)2021-06-072026-06-06-116
Ingram villageVillageExpired on 2026-06-06Rusk County (FEMA plan 106781)2021-06-072026-06-06-116
Ladysmith cityCityExpired on 2026-06-06Rusk County (FEMA plan 106781)2021-06-072026-06-06-116
Sheldon villageVillageExpired on 2026-06-06Rusk County (FEMA plan 106781)2021-06-072026-06-06-116
Tony villageVillageExpired on 2026-06-06Rusk County (FEMA plan 106781)2021-06-072026-06-06-116
Weyerhaeuser villageVillageExpired on 2026-06-06Rusk County (FEMA plan 106781)2021-06-072026-06-06-116

State plan status and tribal plans in this state: see the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-a: hazard identification

Hazards NRI does not cover (local data needed)

  • dam failure (incl. upstream dams)
  • levee failure
  • flash flood as its own subtype
  • ice jams
  • debris flows
  • erosion (riverine and coastal)
  • land subsidence and sinkholes
  • expansive soils

The 18 National Risk Index hazards, ranked by expected annual loss (EAL)

Sources: 5, 6

Rank by EALHazardNRI risk ratingEAL ratingEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL total (see note)modeled dollars per yearStorm Events records, 1996 to 2026-06-30countStorm Events coverage note
1Inland FloodingRelatively LowRelatively Low$5,022,595$3,405$32,137$5,058,13610
2Cold WaveRelatively ModerateRelatively High$995$145$4,064,942$4,066,08220Includes 1 Frost/Freeze record (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition; counted in this table and in B1-d, not in the B1-e descriptor).
3TornadoRelatively LowRelatively Low$355,674$1,483$231,416$588,5748
4Strong WindRelatively LowRelatively Low$69,451$8,190$144,783$222,42478Includes 2 High Wind records (a NOAA non-thunderstorm wind type, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition).
5LightningRelatively LowRelatively Low$11,383n/a$180,616$192,0000No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
6HailRelatively LowRelatively Low$154,365$3,298$1,146$158,81067
7Heat WaveVery LowVery Low$27under $1$112,329$112,3577
8DroughtRelatively LowRelatively Lown/a$35,026n/a$35,0260Declared 1 time; no Storm Events record of this type.
9Winter WeatherRelatively LowRelatively Low$8,843$496$18,536$27,87588
10Ice StormVery LowVery Low$12,400n/a$3,259$15,6582
11EarthquakeVery LowVery Low$1,615n/a$490$2,105Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
12WildfireVery LowVery Low$1,733$3$140$1,8760No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
13LandslideVery LowVery Low$4n/a$16$200No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
14HurricaneNo RatingNo Expected Annual Losses$0$0$0$00No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

NRI risk rating combines expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience; EAL rating rates expected annual loss alone. Both compare this county with all U.S. counties.

Local data needed: state and local lightning, wildfire and landslide records (Storm Events records these hazards only in part).

Not applicable to this county per NRI, with no federal declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami and volcanic activity. That is the evidence for leaving them out of the plan.

The state hazard mitigation plan also lists hazards for this county; FEMA asks the plan to explain any hazard it leaves out.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-b: hazard location

Affects the whole county (national data give no location within it): Cold Wave, Drought, Hail, Heat Wave, Ice Storm, Lightning, Strong Wind and Winter Weather.

Inland Flooding: The FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.

Hazards that vary within the county: highest-rated census tracts

Source: 5

HazardHighest-rated census tractsNRI risk rating, score 0 to 100
Earthquaketract 9605 (Very Low, 5.4); tract 9601 (Very Low, 3.9); tract 9604 (Very Low, 3.7)
Hurricaneno tract has a National Risk Index rating for this hazard
Landslidetract 9602 (Very Low, 64.3); tract 9601 (Very Low, 56.7); tract 9603 (Very Low, 47.1)
Tornadotract 9601 (Relatively Moderate, 70.4); tract 9605 (Relatively Moderate, 68.0); tract 9604 (Relatively Moderate, 64.9)
Wildfiretract 9601 (Very Low, 62.9); tract 9602 (Very Low, 57.3); tract 9604 (Very Low, 56.5)

Up to 3 census tracts per hazard, highest National Risk Index rating first, then highest score; a tract number is the Census tract number (for example 9605 is Census Tract 9605). FEMA's Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool maps the National Risk Index for every tract: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/resilience-analysis-and-planning-tool

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-c: hazard extent

Extent: scale, observed range and worst recorded event per hazard

Sources: 6, 7

HazardScaleRecordscount and yearsObserved rangeWorst recorded eventMost damaging (when different)How it applies to jurisdictionsNote
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill19 records, 1996 to 2026 (19 zone-level)1 day to 5 days (median 2 days); 17 with a recorded value5 consecutive days, 1996-01-31 to 1996-02-04, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage1 record, 2004 (1 zone-level)No crop damage reported in 1 record.Countywide (zone-level records).
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)0Storm Events enters a drought at D2 or worse east of the Rockies and D3 or worse from the Rockies west (NWS Instruction 10-1605); NRI drought counts D3 and D4 only.
EarthquakeModified Mercalli (local data)0Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hailhail size (inches)77 records, 1975 to 20250.75 in to 2.75 in (median 0.88 in); 77 with a recorded value2.75 in hail, 2000-08-08Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Bruce village (19 records), Ladysmith city (17 records), Weyerhaeuser village (14 records), Hawkins village (6 records), Glen Flora village (3 records), Sheldon village (3 records), Conrath village (2 records), Ingram village (2 records), Tony village (2 records).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (in event narratives)7 records, 1999 to 2011 (7 zone-level)1 day to 5 days (median 2.5 days); 6 with a recorded value5 consecutive days, 2001-08-04 to 2001-08-08, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).
Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical DepressionSaffir-Simpson0Storm Events files every zone of a storm's episode under the storm's type; flooding from the storm is filed as Flood or Flash Flood records.
Ice StormSperry-Piltz ice scale (local data)2 records, 1996 to 1998 (2 zone-level)No damage reported in 2 records.Countywide (zone-level records).
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (flood depth: FIRM)10 records, 1999 to 2016 (1 zone-level)Flash Flood, 2011-08-02, $50,000 property; $0 crops (2011 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Ladysmith city (2 records), Bruce village (1 record), Conrath village (1 record), Hawkins village (1 record). Zone-level records (1) apply countywide.Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Storm Events damage is often $0 or blank for floods, major ones included; FEMA Public Assistance by declaration (B1-d) shows which floods cost the most.
Debris Flownone (count and damage only)0
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)0Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties.
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI's Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)2 records, 2004 to 2014 (2 zone-level)43 kt (49 mph) to 52 kt (60 mph) (median 47.5 kt (55 mph)); 2 with a recorded value52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust, High Wind, 2004-04-18; NWS zone WIZ016High Wind, 2014-06-16, $5,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2014 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)98 records, 1960 to 202550 kt (58 mph) to 87 kt (100 mph) (median 52 kt (60 mph)); 78 with a recorded value87 kt (100 mph) estimated gust, Thunderstorm Wind, 2025-05-15Thunderstorm Wind, 2001-06-11, $1,000,000 property; crops not reported (2001 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Ladysmith city (19 records), Weyerhaeuser village (16 records), Bruce village (15 records), Hawkins village (10 records), Tony village (6 records), Conrath village (4 records), Glen Flora village (3 records), Ingram village (3 records), Sheldon village (3 records).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)16 records, 1950 to 2021F/EF0 to F/EF3 (median F/EF2); 15 with a recorded valueF3 tornado, 2002-09-02, 16 mi within this county, 440 yd wide, $25,000,000 property; crops not reported (2002 dollars), 27 direct injuriesEvent records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Bruce village (3 records), Hawkins village (2 records), Ladysmith city (2 records), Weyerhaeuser village (2 records), Sheldon village (1 record).Before 1996 a tornado is listed once, under the county where it began, with its whole path's rating and length; from 1996 on, each county lists its own segment. Length is not used to rank tornadoes (see Methods).
Wildfireacres burned (local data)0
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall: local data)88 records, 1996 to 2026 (88 zone-level)No damage reported in 88 records.Countywide (zone-level records).

In event narratives only (local data needed): wind chill, temperature, heat index, ice thickness, acres burned and snow depth; any physical measure of debris flow and lightning.

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records from zones that no NWS zone-county file places in this county (mostly before 2020) are not counted here (the Methods page explains the zone matching).

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-d: previous occurrences

Federal declarations for this county: 12 declarations covering 9 separate hazard incidents counted in this packet (declarations for the same incident count once; non-natural and evacuation-only declarations are not counted).

Federal disaster declarations for this county

Sources: 1, 2, 3

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardCounty Public Assistancefederal share obligated, nominal dollarsNotes
2020-04-042020-01-20DR-4520-WIMajor disasterCOVID-19 PandemicNon-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3454-WIEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4520
2019-08-272019-07-18DR-4459-WIMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Strong Wind, Tornado$15,463.11
2005-09-132005-08-29EM-3249-WIEmergencyHurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2002-09-102002-09-02DR-1432-WIMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingTornado (primary); also designated: Inland Flooding$944,910.31
2001-05-112001-04-10DR-1369-WIMajor disasterFlooding, Severe Storms and TornadoesInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Tornado, Winter Weather$355,780.26
2000-06-242000-05-26DR-1332-WIMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingInland Flooding; Tornado$210,666.28
1999-08-161999-07-04DR-1284-WIMajor disasterWi-Flood-07/20/99Inland Flooding$305,248.07
1993-07-021993-06-07DR-994-WIMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingInland Flooding; Tornadono Public Assistance recorded
1977-10-031977-08-05EM-3048-WIEmergencyWinds, Hail & RainHailno Public Assistance recorded
1976-06-171976-06-17EM-3014-WIEmergencyDroughtDroughtno Public Assistance recorded
1973-04-271973-04-27DR-376-WIMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded

County Public Assistance: applicants the FEMA record places in this county, including any state agencies FEMA files there; statewide rows are listed on the state page; federal share obligated, nominal dollars.

Public Assistance filed under this county for declarations that do not list it: 1 row, $8,749.71

Sources: 2, 3

FEMA numberDeclaredTitleApplicantPA obligatedfederal share obligated, nominal dollars
DR-1944-WI2010-10-21Severe Storms and FloodingMcKinley, Town of (Taylor County)$8,749.71

FEMA's Public Assistance summaries file these applicants under this county, but FEMA's declaration rows for these disasters do not designate it (an electric cooperative or district serving several counties, for example). Not in any declaration row above and not counted.

Public Assistance not placed in any Wisconsin county: 1 row, $87,788.41; listed on the Wisconsin state page.

Source: 3

Previous occurrences by hazard, with explicit no-event rows

Sources: 2, 6, 7

HazardStorm Events records, all years on file(years in the Period column)Since plan approvalrecordsIn the 12 months before plan approvalrecordsLast 5 yearsrecordsDeclared incidents, all yearsseparate disastersDeclared since approvalseparate disastersPeriodStatement
Cold Wave20323001996 to 2026-06-30Includes 1 Frost/Freeze record.
Drought0000101996 to 2026-06-30No Storm Events records of this type; 1 federal declared incident (see declarations table)
Earthquake000000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail7711011101955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave7000001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Ice Storm2000001996 to 2026-06-30
Inland Flooding10000701996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Lightning0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Strong Wind100624101955 to 2026-06-30Includes 2 High Wind records.
Tornado16100501950 to 2026-06-30
Wildfire0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Winter Weather8827027101996 to 2026-06-30

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationFlagsWhy listed
2025-05-15Thunderstorm Wind87 kt (100 mph) estimated gust$0 property; $0 crops (2025 dollars)0, 0LADYSMITHnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Thunderstorm Wind
2014-06-16High Wind43 kt (49 mph) measured sustained$5,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2014 dollars)0, 0NWS zone WIZ016 (RUSK), zone-levelB1-c most damaging: High Wind and Strong Wind
2011-08-02Flash Flood$50,000 property; $0 crops (2011 dollars)0, 0HAWKINSB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
2005-10-04Flooddamage not reported0, 1NWS zone WIZ016 (RUSK), zone-leveldeaths or injuries recorded
2004-04-18High Wind52 kt (60 mph) estimated gustdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone WIZ016 (RUSK), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind
2002-09-02TornadoF3, 16 mi within this county, 440 yd wide$25,000,000 property; crops not reported (2002 dollars)0, 27LADYSMITHdeaths or injuries recorded
2001-08-04Heatdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone WIZ016 (RUSK), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Excessive Heat, Heat
2001-06-11Thunderstorm Wind69 kt (79 mph) measured$1,000,000 property; crops not reported (2001 dollars)0, 0LADYSMITHB1-c most damaging: Thunderstorm Wind
2000-08-08Hail2.75 indamage not reported0, 0LADYSMITHB1-c worst recorded: Hail
1999-07-25Flash Flooddamage not reported0, 1BRUCEdeaths or injuries recorded
1996-01-31Cold/Wind Chilldamage not reported0, 0NWS zone WIZ016 (RUSK), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
1975-08-24TornadoF2, 34.2 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 400 yd wide$25,000 property; crops not recorded (1975 dollars)0, 6location not recordeddeaths or injuries recorded

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (320 rows).

Location is the place NOAA recorded, as written in its data; it need not be a jurisdiction in this plan.

1 Fire Management declaration (1980-04-24 to 1980-04-24) FEMA filed as Statewide with no county; each names one local fire. Listed on the state page.

Local data needed: state-declared emergencies, from your state emergency management agency (federal data do not include them).

Tribal and special-area declarations in this state are listed on the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-e: probability of future events

Probability: FEMA annualized frequency and descriptor per hazard

Sources: 5, 6

HazardFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)unit per rowUnitIn plain termsDescriptorDescriptor basisNRI events or days in its record period (hail, wind and tornado are area-weighted, so can be fractional)NRI periodLocationNote
Cold Wave8.74event-days per yearabout 8.74 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 10 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (33.3%)1662005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Drought2.82event-days per yearabout 2.82 days per yearStorm Events event-days in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)842000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywideNo Storm Events drought record, 1996 to 2025
Earthquake0.000253annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.0253%not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor (Storm Events does not record earthquakes).
Hail2.28events per yearabout 2.28 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)86.7 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave1.63event-days per yearabout 1.63 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 4 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (13.3%)232005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Hurricane0events per yearnone modeledUnlikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)01851 to 2024 (Atlantic)see B1-fNRI counts hurricane and tropical storm tracks passing within storm-force wind range; federal declarations are in B1-d.
Ice Storm0.261event-days per yearabout 0.261 days per yearPossibleStorm Events event-days in 2 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (6.67%)181946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywide
Inland Flooding0.286event-days per yearabout 0.286 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 7 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (23.3%)81996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.171events per year (modeled)about 1 in 6 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning32.5days per year with a strikeabout 32.5 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind1.83events per yearabout 1.83 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)701986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.285events per yearabout 1 in 4 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Wildfire0.0000157annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.00157%Storm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor: no Storm Events record 1996 to 2025
Winter Weather16.6event-days per yearabout 16.6 days per yearHighly likelyStorm Events event-days in 27 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (90%)3152005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide

FEMA annualized frequency (modeled) is the National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025) estimate of how often a hazard affects this county in a year; it is not recorded events divided by years, and its unit differs by hazard (events, event-days, or days with a lightning strike per year). For earthquake, wildfire, coastal flooding and tsunami the value is the chance (or number of events) at a location in the county, not across the county, so no "1 in N years" is given and the descriptor comes from Storm Events where it has a record (none for earthquake). The Methods page gives each hazard's method, from FEMA's National Risk Index Technical Documentation v1.20.

Where NRI gives event-days, the descriptor comes from the share of years with a Storm Events record; NRI's source records more events, so the two differ.

Descriptor scale used in this packet (defined per unit)

Sources: 5, 6

UnitDescriptorDefinition
events per yearHighly likely1 or more per year
events per yearLikelyabout once in 1 to 10 years
events per yearPossibleabout once in 10 to 100 years
events per yearUnlikelyless than once in 100 years
annual probabilityLikely10% to under 100% chance in a given year
annual probabilityPossible1% to under 10% chance in a given year
annual probabilityUnlikelyunder 1% chance in a given year
event-days (share of years)Highly likelyevent-days recorded in 90% or more of years
event-days (share of years)Likelyevent-days recorded in 10% to under 90% of years
event-days (share of years)Possibleevent-days recorded in some years but under 10% of years
lightning strike-daysHighly likelycloud-to-ground strikes on 1 or more days per year

Intensity bands: historical frequency (Storm Events)

Source: 6

HazardBandYearsEventscounty-coded recordsYears in periodEvents per yearevents / years
Hail1.00-1.99 in1996 to 202531301.03
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 20252300.0667
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 202570302.33
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)65 kt+1996 to 20256300.2
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 20250300
TornadoEF0-11996 to 20256300.2
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20252300.0667
TornadoEF4-51996 to 20250300
Tornadounrated (EFU)1996 to 20250300

The bands show how often events of each severity were recorded in this county, to profile how severe events have been (FEMA's probability item asks for the range of intensities).

Hail smaller than 1 inch is not counted: on 2010-01-05 the National Weather Service raised its severe-hail threshold from 3/4 inch to 1 inch, so smaller reports became less common after 2009 (NWS Service Change Notice 09-52). NRI hail frequency uses a 0.75 inch threshold.

Optional: future conditions. Not a required item in the 2025 FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide; some states ask for it. The federal Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) site gives county exposure to future climate conditions (https://resilience.climate.gov/).

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-f: hazards that vary across jurisdictions

Range of census tract risk within the county

Source: 5

HazardTractsrated of allNRI risk score, 0 to 100Tracts by rating
MinMedianMax
Cold Wave5 of 596.898.799.5Very High 5
Drought5 of 576.088.088.5Relatively Low 4, Very Low 1
Earthquake5 of 50.83.75.4Very Low 5
Hail5 of 575.978.580.9Relatively Moderate 5
Heat Wave5 of 524.036.948.6Relatively Low 5
Hurricane0 of 5No Rating 5
Ice Storm5 of 537.842.744.8Relatively Low 5
Inland Flooding5 of 564.583.187.7Relatively High 4, Relatively Moderate 1
Landslide5 of 525.447.164.3Very Low 5
Lightning5 of 579.889.594.7Relatively High 5
Strong Wind5 of 572.680.183.1Relatively High 1, Relatively Moderate 4
Tornado5 of 558.764.970.4Relatively Moderate 5
Wildfire5 of 552.356.562.9Very Low 5
Winter Weather5 of 563.571.378.2Relatively Moderate 5

Drought: Agriculture is all of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is.

Rated tracts only: No Rating (score 0.0), Not Applicable and Insufficient Data tracts are counted but not used for the minimum, median and maximum.

The score ranks a tract against all U.S. tracts (100 = highest). The rating is FEMA's category for the tract's risk value, computed differently, so the two can disagree.

Frequency data for cold wave, drought, hail, heat wave, ice storm, lightning, strong wind and winter weather are county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone), the same for every jurisdiction; the tract range mostly reflects where buildings and people are (crop and livestock value where a line above names agriculture).

Each jurisdiction (starting figures from federal data)

Sources: 1, 3, 4, 6

JurisdictionTypePlan statusRepetitive lossFMA RL and SRL (44 CFR 77.2); repeat-flood, any definitionPublic Assistance to this jurisdictionFEMA records matched by applicant name; federal share obligated, nominal dollarsEvent records naming this placeall years; since its plan
Rusk CountyCountyExpired on 2026-06-06FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 2$126,430.990 total; 0 since its plan
Bruce villageVillageExpired on 2026-06-06FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$39,939.5038 total; 7 since its plan
Conrath villageVillageExpired on 2026-06-06FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$1,481.257 total; 1 since its plan
Glen Flora villageVillageExpired on 2026-06-06FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded6 total; 0 since its plan
Hawkins villageVillageExpired on 2026-06-06FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$7,838.2519 total; 2 since its plan
Ingram villageVillageExpired on 2026-06-06FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded5 total; 0 since its plan
Ladysmith cityCityExpired on 2026-06-06FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$785,798.9640 total; 2 since its plan
Sheldon villageVillageExpired on 2026-06-06FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded7 total; 1 since its plan
Tony villageVillageExpired on 2026-06-06FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded8 total; 0 since its plan
Weyerhaeuser villageVillageExpired on 2026-06-06FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$6,45332 total; 4 since its plan

Repetitive-loss counts are for whole NFIP communities, which can extend beyond this county (see the note in B2-c).

County Public Assistance in B1-d also includes applicants filed under the county that are not jurisdictions in this plan (for example state agencies, special districts and nonprofits), so the jurisdiction rows add up to less.

Supports FEMA checklist items B2-a and B2-b: vulnerability and potential impacts

Local data needed

The table below gives county-level starting figures; the plan describes impacts for each jurisdiction and its own assets.

  • Critical facilities and lifelines per hazard
  • A problem statement per jurisdiction per hazard
  • Changes in development in hazard-prone areas since the last approval, or a statement of none (E1-a)
  • Future assets

County-level starter: exposure, expected annual loss and damage since the plan

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

HazardBuilding exposuremodeled dollarsAgriculture exposuremodeled dollarsPopulation exposedpeopleEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL as % of exposurebuildings; agriculture where notedStorm Events damage since 2021-06-07county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
Cold Wave$4,298,718,271$69,256,70714,175$995$145$4,064,942under 0.0001%$0
Droughtn/a$10,327,827n/an/a$35,026n/a0.339% (agriculture)NRI has no building exposure for this hazard; agriculture shown
Earthquake$7,057,061,070n/a14,188$1,615n/a$490under 0.0001%
Hail$4,298,718,271$69,256,70714,175$154,365$3,298$1,1460.00359%$0
Heat Wave$4,298,718,271$69,256,70714,175$27under $1$112,329under 0.0001%
Hurricane$4,298,718,271$69,256,70714,175$0$0$00%
Ice Storm$4,294,424,901n/a14,173$12,400n/a$3,2590.000289%
Inland Flooding$4,288,020,983$1,301,277247$5,022,595$3,405$32,137n/a (see note)NRI counts the full building value of any census block with some flood loss; this is not the value of buildings in the floodplain. Use local FIRM overlays for B2-a/B2-b.
Landslide$35,145,641n/a108$4n/a$16under 0.0001%
Lightning$4,298,718,271n/a14,175$11,383n/a$180,6160.000265%
Strong Wind$4,298,718,271$69,256,70714,175$69,451$8,190$144,7830.00162%$26,000
Tornado$4,298,718,271$69,256,70714,175$355,674$1,483$231,4160.00827%$20,000
Wildfire$1,347,459,454$25,288,4475,130$1,733$3$1400.000129%
Winter Weather$4,298,718,271$69,256,70714,175$8,843$496$18,5360.000206%$0

Totals since 2021-06-07 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 18 county-coded records, 18 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $46,000; 30 zone-level records, 30 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $0 reported for the zone; Public Assistance: no counted declaration since the plan.

FEMA does not split Public Assistance by hazard. A declaration mapped to several hazards is listed under each of them with its full amount, so the per-hazard column does not add up to the total; the unit total counts each declaration once.

NRI computes earthquake exposure on its own basis, so it exceeds the county building value in B2-a.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-a: vulnerability (county context)

County context

Source: 5

MeasureValue
Population14,175
Building value (total, not at risk)$4,298,718,271
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$69,256,707
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Very Low
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$5,691,130
Expected annual loss, population equivalence, all hazards (NRI values each statistical life at $13.7M; a modeled value of expected deaths and injuries, not property damage)$4,789,812
Social vulnerability ratingRelatively Moderate
Community resilience ratingRelatively High
NRI versionDecember 2025

FEMA's all-hazard expected annual loss adds buildings, agriculture and population equivalence; this table gives the property part and the population-equivalence part as separate rows.

Social vulnerability: higher means people are more likely to be harmed and slower to recover. Community resilience: lower means the community is less able to recover. High social vulnerability and low resilience both raise the NRI risk rating.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-c: repetitive loss properties

Repetitive loss in this county, both definitions

Sources: 1, 4

DefinitionPropertiesSevere repetitive lossProperties
Repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition2Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition0

The state NFIP coordinator's list, the source FEMA's Handbook names, often uses the NFIP insurance definition (second row).

Repeat-flood properties: county and state-level rows

Sources: 1, 4

ScopeRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
County total0020200
of which: Rusk County (unincorporated area)0020200
Statewide, no county in FEMA's file0020200

The statewide row counts properties FEMA's file gives with no county in this state; they are listed for reference and are not in this county's counts.

Repeat-flood properties by jurisdiction in the plan (NFIP community)

Sources: 1, 4

JurisdictionNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
Rusk County5506020020200
Bruce village5503700000000
Conrath village5503710000000
Glen Flora village5503720000000
Hawkins village5503730000000
Ingram village5503740000000
Ladysmith city5503750000000
Sheldon village5503760000000
Tony village5503770000000
Weyerhaeuser village5503780000000

Counts by occupancy group for each jurisdiction are in the Excel file, sheet "B2-c Jurisdictions".

Jurisdiction rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each jurisdiction row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

County repeat-flood properties by occupancy group

Sources: 1, 4

Occupancy groupRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
single-family residential0020200
2 to 4 unit residential0000000
other residential0000000
non-residential0000000
not reported0000000

FEMA's occupancy groups have no institutional class; institutional properties are counted in non-residential or other residential in the table by occupancy group.

FMA RL and FMA SRL are the Flood Mitigation Assistance definitions (44 CFR 77.2), the ones the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide cites. NFIP repetitive loss (the FEMA insurance definition) is 2 or more claims over $1,000 in 10 years, and a property can leave that group once it is mitigated. Also shown: NFIP severe repetitive loss, any category, mitigated and currently insured. The Methods page gives the OpenFEMA field details.

Counts are aggregates of FEMA's public NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (FEMA's data date 2026-08-02; file version 2026-08-04). No property is identified. County assignment is FEMA's geocode.

In this county 0 properties are FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 2 properties are NFIP repetitive loss but not FMA repetitive loss.

Exact counts; no count suppression.

Sources

Tables cite these sources by number. The full list, for the plan's bibliography (FEMA review item A4-a):

  1. FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-29T134039Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)
  2. FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-29T162832Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)
  3. FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-29T150754Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)
  4. FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)
  5. FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)
  6. NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/
  7. NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty
  8. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2024 Gazetteer, 2020 place by county, CT county-to-cousub crosswalk, version 2024-gazetteer, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_counties_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_cousubs_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_unsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_elsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_scsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/national_place_by_county2020.txt, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ct_change/ct_cou_to_cousub_crosswalk.xlsx (used to match place names and codes; no table prints its values)

What this packet is and what the plan adds

This packet is the federal data for the plan's risk assessment (the summary on page 1 says how it is organized); the plan and FEMA's review decide whether each item is met.

The plan adds what only the community has: local data on assets, critical facilities, development and each jurisdiction's impacts; local hazard history, including state-declared emergencies; the mitigation strategy; and adoption.

How the federal data are built: National Risk Index values are FEMA's model, not counts of events. Storm Events is more complete from 1996; zone-level records are placed by forecast zone, not by location in the county. Public Assistance for a jurisdiction is matched by applicant name. The Methods page gives every rule and the known edge cases.

OpenFEMA disclaimer

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Reuse, citation and corrections

Reuse and citation: Hazard Plain text and tables are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); credit Hazard Plain and the release. The underlying federal data are public domain; OpenFEMA data are also subject to the OpenFEMA terms and conditions.

Cite this: Hazard Plain (2026). Rusk County, WI: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; County FIPS 55107). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/wi/55107/ Built from FEMA OpenFEMA, the FEMA National Risk Index and NOAA NCEI Storm Events; source versions in the packet's Sources list.

Corrections: to report an error, name the packet, the table and what your records show. Contact: contact@hazardplain.org