Wisconsin piling up costs from more floods, report finds. And that was before this deluge.

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2 days ago

As southeastern Wisconsin reckons with the growing toll of extreme weather events − such as last weekend's 1,000-year flood − the region faces mounting costs to infrastructure, possible displacement, the loss of personal belongings and irreplaceable memories, as well a serious impacts to mental and physical health.
A new report by the Wisconsin Policy Forum outlines how Wisconsin has seen an increase in damage caused by flooding, in turn leading to dramatic spikes in flood insurance claims and payouts.
In something of an astonishing fluke of timing, the report was in the works long before this month's flood. That made the conclusions all the more relevant.
Climate change − which is caused by human use of fossil fuels − is warming the planet, allowing it to hold onto more water and leading to supercharged rain events. The devastating impact of these storms will continue to grow with inaction as climate change is warming the planet at a pace faster than ever before.
Floods are Wisconsin's second-most frequent disaster declaration, resulting in $123.7 million in damages since 1999, the report says.
People need to be ready, whether that means buying flood insurance as individuals or broadly making sure local and state leaders have plans in place to help communities respond and recover more quickly, said Tyler Byrnes, senior research associate at the Wisconsin Policy Forum and author on the report.
Here are four takeaways from the new report.
A dramatic increase in flood damage
There has been a massive jump in Wisconsin flood damage in the last three decades, according to the new report. There has also been a series of massive flood events — in 1997, 1998, 2008, 2010 and 2018 — leading to spikes in claims that totaled nearly $114 million in damages. The largest was after a 2008 record rain event when 12 inches of rain fell over the course of two days in southern Wisconsin, which led to $49.0 million in damages claimed.
The most recent in 2018 led to $24 million in damages, most within Dane and Sauk counties.
And although this month's flood wasn't part of the report, based on the data, Byrnes estimates that the Aug. 9 and 10 flood event will likely be one of the highest set of claims Wisconsin has ever seen.
Current projections show that over the next 20 years, most of the state will have a higher likelihood of heavy rains and, presumably floods, increasing the chance for spikes in property damage.
More: Landmark study finds Great Lakes have entered a new era with climate change, extreme events
Milwaukee leads the state in flood insurance claims
Flood insurance claims are largely concentrated in southern Wisconsin due to topography, development and the fact that more people live in the southern part of the state with higher property values, Byrnes said.
In southwestern Wisconsin, communities are situated in steep landscapes and within valleys, and clustered near rivers. Southeastern Wisconsin receives the most amount of rain and is more developed, leading to more runoff that can damage building and infrastructure.
From 1978 to 2023, Milwaukee has had the most flood damage impact compared to other cities in the state at about $25 million, followed by Fort Atkinson at nearly $11 million and Fond Du Lac at about $9 million, the report said.
More: Extreme heat. Warmer water. More ticks. Fewer fish. Climate change report brings grim news.
Wisconsin flood insurance premiums just above national average
Flood insurance policies are managed by FEMA and private companies with premiums subsidized by the federal government. Policy holders pay different premium amounts depending on flood risk and property value.
As of 2023, the median flood insurance policy for a single-family home in Wisconsin cost $804 each year, just above the national average of $786, according to the report.
Local, state leaders need to prepare
The report acknowledged Milwaukee's strides in implementing green infrastructure and investing in improved stormwater infrastructure.
Those tools will be key to warding off flood damages for communities throughout Wisconsin, Byrnes noted.
He also said local governments need to be tougher on limiting the impacts of development and should require measures to prevent water runoff.
This kind of preparation will also come with tradeoffs, Byrnes said. Limiting impacts of development can increase costs, which is a sensitive issue when housing costs already are skyrocketing in some areas. It can also stop places from being developed entirely — which is a problem when there is a need for more housing stock.
But there has to be a balance, Byrnes said, making sure there is enough affordable housing while also protecting people from catastrophic flood events.
Caitlin Looby covers the Great Lakes and the environment for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reach her at [e-mail], and follow her on X @caitlooby.
Caitlin's work is supported by the Brico Fund, Fund for Lake Michigan, Barbara K. Frank, and individual contributions. Grants and donations help make this reporting possible. The Journal Sentinel maintains full editorial control.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Report: climate change increasing flood damage claims in Wisconsin
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