Enter any address in Arenac County, Michigan to see its FEMA flood zone
4 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Arenac County, Michigan has recorded 14 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 2 flash floods and 12 river or area floods. The county has received 11 federal disaster declarations, 3 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1972–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Dam/Levee Break | May 16, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 20, 2004 |
| Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 | Snowstorm | Jan 2, 1999 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Sep 10, 1986 |
| Blizzards & Snowstorms | Snowstorm | Jan 27, 1978 |
| Drought | Drought | Mar 2, 1977 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Apr 12, 1973 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | May 18, 2020 | 4.40M |
| Flood | Jun 13, 2010 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 1, 2008 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 22, 2007 | 15.00K |
| Flood | Mar 14, 2007 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Jun 4, 2007 | 6.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2006 | — |
| Flood | Mar 11, 2006 | 15K |
| Flood | Jun 10, 2005 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 10, 2005 | — |
Flood — May 18, 2020
A very slow moving low pressure system advanced east from the central Plains. Unusually deep moisture was pushed northward into the Great Lakes region, ahead of this low. Multiple rounds of heavy rain fell in parts of northern lower Michigan on the 17th and 18th. This heavy rain targeted east central and northeast lower Michigan in particular. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches were common by th...
Flood — Jun 13, 2010
Heavy rain in Northeast Lower Michigan on the early morning of the 12th- part of a wet period of weather in general - produced minor river flooding on the Rifle River near Sterling. Water rose into campgrounds at White's Canoe Livery. The river crested at 6.3 feet, just above the 6.0 feet flood stage.
Flood — Apr 1, 2008
Rainfall and snowmelt on March 31st and April 1st contributed to minor flooding on the Rifle River. Rainfall of around an inch was enough to push the river into the campgroun of White's Canoe Livery, near Sterling. Damage was negligible.
Flood — Mar 22, 2007
Over an inch of rain fell on East Central Lower Michigan in the early morning hours of the 22nd. Snowmelt upstream contributed to runoff, producing flooding in parts of Arenac County. Ice jams on the Rifle and Au Gres Rivers may have contributed to the flooding.
Flood — Mar 14, 2007
Rapid snowmelt upstream resulted in considerable flooding in Arenac County. Ice cover on rivers and streams, and on Saginaw Bay downstream, slowed runoff and contributed to flooding problems.
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 Arenac 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 Arenac 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.