Enter any address in Allegan County, Michigan to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Allegan County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA data shows 14 flash flood events and 6 flood events. For example, intense rainfall in June 2009 saturated the ground, contributing to flash flooding, and record river flooding occurred in April 2013, leading to a state of disaster declaration for multiple counties, including those along the Grand River.
FEMA data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most National Flood Insurance Program claims, with an average payout of $25,975 and an average water depth of 0.9 feet. While Zone X properties have had fewer claims, the average payout was $13,859, with one instance in Zone X_SHADED reporting a 3.0 ft water depth. Residents in areas prone to river overflow, such as those along the Grand River, and those in Zone A or Zone X_SHADED should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
11 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Allegan County, Michigan has recorded 20 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 14 flash floods and 6 river or area floods. The county has received 16 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Flooding | Flood | Apr 16, 2013 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 6, 2008 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Dec 11, 2000 |
| Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 | Snowstorm | Jan 2, 1999 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Sep 10, 1986 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Sep 8, 1980 |
| Blizzards & Snowstorms | Snowstorm | Jan 27, 1978 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Apr 17, 2013 | 5.00M |
| Flood | Jun 21, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 22, 2010 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2009 | 4.00M |
| Flash Flood | Jun 7, 2008 | 2.00M (2 deaths) |
| Flood | May 21, 2004 | 1M |
| Flash Flood | Oct 24, 2001 | 15K |
| Flood | Feb 24, 2001 | 10K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 23, 2001 | 50K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 9, 2001 | 100K |
Flood — Apr 17, 2013
Record flooding occurred during the month of April and record crests occurred on the lower portions of the Grand River at Ionia, Lowell, Ada, Comstock Park, and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Due to the severity of the flooding, Michigan���s Governor Rick Snyder declared a state of disaster for 19 counties and two cities. ||The two cities declared in the disaster were Grand Rapids and Ionia. T...
Flood — Jun 21, 2011
A warm front moved north across southern and central lower Michigan during the day of June 21st, allowing a much warmer and very humid airmass to advect into the area. Thunderstorms developed during the mid afternoon hours due to the building heat and instability and lake breeze convergence. The first of the thunderstorms developed near Holland around 4 p.m. just a couple miles inland of Lake...
Flash Flood — Jul 22, 2010
One round of strong to severe storms impacted far southern lower Michigan during the mid to late afternoon hours of July 22nd, resulting in several reports of downed trees and power lines. The most extensive damage occurred over southwestern Gull Lake in northeastern Kalamazoo county, where a microburst produced winds up to around 75 mph that brought down numerous large trees. ||Another round ...
Flash Flood — Jun 19, 2009
Thunderstorms developed and moved across Lake Michigan during the evening hours on June 19th. Several hours of intense rainfall occurred starting around 7:00 PM EST. The ground was already saturated from early morning thunderstorms that produced very heavy rainfall. In addition to the heavy rain, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes accompanied the thunderstorms.
Flash Flood — Jun 7, 2008
Severe thunderstorms produced several reports of damaging wind gusts and also caused significant flooding. In fact a presidential disaster declaration was issued for Allegan, Barry, Eaton and Ottawa counties.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Allegan County, Michigan:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Allegan County, Michigan that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.