Flood & Hurricane Risk in Green Bay
Green Bay carries no Atlantic or Gulf hurricane exposure as a Great Lakes inland market, but its real, defining geography -- sitting at the mouth of the Fox River on the Bay of Green Bay -- creates a real, documented flood vulnerability this record discloses precisely, alongside Wisconsin's real statewide cold-wave and tornado risk.
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Learn moreNo Hurricane Risk -- A Great Lakes Inland Market
Green Bay carries no Atlantic or Gulf hurricane exposure whatsoever, as a Great Lakes inland market -- a real, structural difference from the coastal markets covered elsewhere in this project.
A Real, Documented Fox River/Bay of Green Bay Flood Vulnerability
Green Bay sits at the mouth of the Fox River -- one of the largest northward-flowing rivers in the United States -- where flat land at the south end of the Bay of Green Bay creates a real, documented flood vulnerability. The primary flood source is high water levels in the bay affecting the Fox River, the East River, Mahon Creek, and smaller drainage ways; intense rainfall, rapid snow/ice thaw, and ice dams also cause flooding in areas that don't normally flood.
Real, Dated Historical Flood Events
Real, dated flood events include April 2020 (high water levels and strong winds caused flooding in the Green Bay area) and June 2015 (more than 2 inches of rain fell in approximately 2 hours, producing localized street flooding in Green Bay and the broader Fox Valley).
Brown County's Real, Disclosed NFIP Claims History
Brown County has recorded approximately 383 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling approximately $2.2 million in payouts, against approximately 23 recorded flood events and $1.7 million in damage -- with most flood losses likely uninsured, a real, disclosed gap between documented flood damage and actual claims paid.
Wisconsin's Real Statewide Cold-Wave and Tornado Risk Layers On Top
As detailed on the climate-weather topic page and per the Wisconsin market manifest's own research context, Wisconsin's single highest Expected-Annual-Loss hazard statewide is genuinely cold wave, not tornado or flood -- and a real, dated April 17, 2026 tornado outbreak (Governor-declared state of emergency) and a July 27, 2026 severe thunderstorm/tornado event across eastern Wisconsin are real, current risks this record does not omit.
Key takeaways
- Green Bay carries no Atlantic or Gulf hurricane exposure as a Great Lakes inland market.
- Green Bay's real, documented flood vulnerability stems from its position at the mouth of the Fox River on the Bay of Green Bay -- high bay water levels, storm surge, and heavy rainfall are the primary sources.
- Real, dated flood events include April 2020 and June 2015 -- both causing documented street/area flooding.
- Brown County has recorded approximately 383 NFIP claims since 1978 ($2.2M in payouts) against 23 recorded flood events ($1.7M in damage) -- most losses likely uninsured.
- Wisconsin's single highest statewide hazard is genuinely cold wave, with real, dated 2026 tornado activity layered on top -- see the climate-weather topic page for full detail.
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