Wisconsin Flood Safety Awareness Week
Published on March 09, 2026
When the Water Starts Rising:
What Wayne and Wanda Do to Get Ready for a Wisconsin Flood
"Hi! We're Wayne and Wanda, the official Outagamie County Emergency Management NOAA Weather Radio mascots."
Flooding is one of Wisconsin’s most common hazards—so we try to stay ready, even if we don’t live right next to a river.
This week is Wisconsin Flood Safety Awareness Week, and it’s a good reminder for you to pause and think: If water starts rising, what would I actually do? In Wisconsin, flooding can show up fast from snow melting, ice jams, heavy rain, or storm drains that can’t keep up.
We’ve learned that a few small steps ahead of time can save a lot of money and stress later.
“It probably won’t happen to me”… until it does
We used to think flooding only happens in places marked “flood zone.” But that’s not true.
Here’s what you should keep in mind:
- Flooding can happen outside mapped floodplains.
- About 35% of flood insurance claims come from places outside the high-risk flood zones.
- Just 1 inch of water in a home can cause up to $25,000 in damage.
- It only takes 12 inches of water to carry away a small car and 6 inches of fast-moving water to knock an adult off their feet
So yeah—flooding doesn’t have to be “major” to be dangerous.
What we do before a flood (so we're not panicking later)
1) We stay informed
When spring melt or heavy rain is coming, we:
- look up our flood risk using the FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- watch weather forecasts daily during risky times
- keep an eye on river levels using:
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- plan two ways out of our neighborhood (not just one) avoiding routes with low spots, culverts, or roads that flood a lot
- make sure we can get alerts through a NOAA Weather Radio (just like us!) and weather apps predownloaded on our phones
2) We protect our home (especially the basement)
Before flooding season, we do a quick “home check” and:
- test the sump pump and think about a backup option
- keep important papers up high and waterproof (not in the basement)
- move valuables out of the basement—or at least put them up on shelves
- clear snow, ice, and junk away from roof edges, downspouts, and the foundation area
3) We think about flood insurance
Even if my area doesn’t look “high risk,” we consider it—because flooding can still happen.
- Flood insurance can have a 30-day waiting period before it starts
- In Wisconsin, you can learn more through the WI Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
- If you rent, remember: renters can often insure their belongings even if they don’t own the building
What we do during a flood
If flooding starts, we stick to one rule like it’s the law: Turn Around, Don’t Drown
We never drive or walk through flooded water. We never go around barricades. We ALWAYS assume floodwater is unsafe because it can hide:
- sewage
- chemicals
- debris
- downed power lines
What we do after a flood (if our home takes water)
If water gets in, we try to be careful and smart about cleanup:
- We follow cleaning/disinfecting steps to prevent mold (Wisconsin has guidance through WI DHS Flood Resources for Residents)
- If power is out more than 4 hours, we throw out refrigerated food and anything touched by floodwater
- If our private well gets flooded, we disinfect and test the water before drinking it again
The bottom line
Flooding can happen almost anywhere in Wisconsin, and it can happen fast. Even shallow water can cause serious damage and danger. So we try to plan ahead, stay informed, protect our home and all it's memories, and remember the safest move in a flood: Turn Around, Don’t Drown.