Flooding: Wisconsin Flood Resilience Scorecard

The Flood Resilience Scorecard (FRS) is a comprehensive flood planning checklist developed by the Wisconsin Climate and Health Program and UW Sea Grant. It aims to help local and regional governments assess past, current, and projected flooding impacts in their community and identify effective solutions to protect communities.

Climate change is bringing warmer and wetter weather to Wisconsin and scientists expect more frequent and intense storms in the future. The increased rainfall is causing a cycle of flooding, property damage, and rebuilding in many areas of the state. Taking steps to prevent flooding and reduce the serious impacts is a community’s best defense against flooding, but it can be tricky to know where to start. FRS is a great first step to help you on your path to building a flood-resilient community.

To get started, complete the scorecard’s three online modules and receive a customized list of recommendations to improve your community’s flood resilience.

How will FRS help my community?

Depending on the recommendations you apply, your community can expect to:

• Learn what actions will help your community become more flood resilience.
• Use data to inform strategic planning, grant writing, comprehensive plans, and more.
• Increase cross-sector participation in preparedness planning, and more.

"The [FRS] review of what we have made us more aware of what we are doing well and what we should be looking to improve.”—City of Manitowoc Community Development Direction

How can my community complete the Flood Resilience Scorecard?

We recommend bringing a wide variety of professionals to the table; however, participation numbers can be scaled to accommodate capacity. These include public health, emergency management, human services, municipal planners, local governmental staff, floodplain and watershed planners, and other flood preparedness and response organizations.

Step one: download the FRS documentation

Download options

• Full scorecard, P-03396 (PDF)
• Stand-alone FRS modules:
  • Module 1: Environmental, P-03396A (PDF)
  • Module 2: Institutional, P-03396B (PDF)
  • Module 3: Social, P-03396C (PDF)

Contact the Climate and Health Program staff at the Department of Health Services at DHSClimate@dhs.wisconsin.gov to receive your data companion. The data companion will provide a “one-stop-shop” for federal flood, soil, and water data about your community and will help your municipality complete the scorecard.

Step two: engage stakeholders

To complete the FRS, schedule a meeting with key stakeholders, such as public health, emergency management, human services, municipal planners, local governmental staff, floodplain and watershed planners, and other flood preparedness and response organizations.

Step three: complete the scorecard online

Complete online modules and receive recommendations to make data-informed decisions.