FloodZoneMap.org

Clare County, Michigan Flood Zones

Check an Address in Clare County

Enter any address in Clare County, Michigan to see its FEMA flood zone

Read First-Hand Flood Stories from Clare County

5 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.

Read Michigan flood stories →

Flood Risk Data for Clare County

Clare County, Michigan has recorded 8 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 5 flash floods and 3 river or area floods. The county has received 9 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.

Clare County Disaster History

FEMA Disaster Declarations (1975–2020)

Disaster Declarations
9
Flood/Coastal Disasters
2
Latest Disaster
Covid-19 (2020-01-20)

Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.

Recent Disaster Declarations in Clare County

DeclarationTypeDate
Covid-19BiologicalJan 20, 2020
Covid-19 PandemicBiologicalJan 20, 2020
Hurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricaneAug 29, 2005
SnowSnowstormDec 11, 2000
Severe Storms & FloodingFloodSep 10, 1986
Blizzards & SnowstormsSnowstormJan 27, 1978
DroughtDroughtMar 2, 1977
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Icing & FloodingSevere StormMar 19, 1976
Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingFloodSep 30, 1975

Recorded Flood Events in Clare County

NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)

Total Flood Events
8
River/Area Floods
3
Flash Floods
5
Total Property Damage
$4.5M

Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.

Recent Flood Events in Clare County

TypeDateDamage
FloodApr 17, 20133.00M
FloodMay 23, 20041M
Flash FloodMay 16, 200125K
Flash FloodMay 15, 2001100K
FloodFeb 9, 200150K
Flash FloodJul 14, 1998
Flash FloodFeb 21, 1997
Flash FloodJun 21, 1996

Clare County Flood History

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 — May 23, 2004

The biggest and longest duration flooding event in the past ten to twenty years occurred across southwestern and south central lower Michigan from May 20th through the third of June. Flooding in mid May resulted in very high river levels and the ground was saturated on the 20th. Numerous thunderstorm complexes and areas of heavy rainfall developed repeatedly in the vicinity of a quasi station...

Flash Flood — May 16, 2001

Thunderstorms developed during the morning hours of the 15th, producing several reports of large hail and high winds. It was also a record rainfall event for the Grand Rapids area, and 4 to 5 inches of rain fell in less than 6 hours across much of southwestern and south central lower Michigan. Three quarters inch hail was reported at Blue Lake Township (Muskegon county) by area law enforcement ...

Flash Flood — May 15, 2001

Thunderstorms developed during the morning hours of the 15th, producing several reports of large hail and high winds. It was also a record rainfall event for the Grand Rapids area, and 4 to 5 inches of rain fell in less than 6 hours across much of southwestern and south central lower Michigan. Three quarters inch hail was reported at Blue Lake Township (Muskegon county) by area law enforcement ...

Flood — Feb 9, 2001

Extensive flooding began on the 9th as a result of the combination of heavy rain and melting snow. Numerous roads were closed across all of southwestern and south central lower Michigan, including portions of M-37 in Lake county. In Osceola county, 1 road near Ashton, just north of Reed City, was washed out. Two roads were washed out in Muskegon county. A dozen roads were washed out or closed ...

Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.

Clare County NFIP Flood Insurance Claims

Total Claims Filed
7
Total Paid Out
$6,573
Avg Claim
$2,191
Avg Water Depth
6.0 ft

Claims by Flood Zone

A Zones (High Risk)
4

Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).

Flood Zone Types in Clare County

FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Clare 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.

View all flood zone types →

Flood Insurance in Clare County

Properties in Clare 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.