Enter any address in Kent County, Michigan to see its FEMA flood zone
Flooding from heavy rainfall events is the primary flood concern in Kent County, MI. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 13 flood events and 13 flash flood events recorded in the county. Recent examples include significant rainfall causing road closures and some home damage on May 18, 2020, and flooding of roads and low-lying areas after several inches of rain on October 2, 2019. Record flooding also occurred in April 2013, leading to a state of disaster declaration that included Kent County.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $18,828 and an average water depth of 5.4 feet. Properties in Zone X_SHADED also show a notable number of claims with a higher average payout of $10,857 and an average water depth of 6.1 feet. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, Zone X_SHADED, and those located near rivers or in low-lying areas should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
12 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Kent County, Michigan has recorded 26 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 13 flash floods and 13 river or area floods. The county has received 13 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 (1965–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Flood | Aug 24, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Flooding | Flood | Apr 16, 2013 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 20, 2004 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Dec 11, 2000 |
| Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 | Snowstorm | Jan 2, 1999 |
| Severe Storms | Severe Storm | May 29, 1998 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Sep 10, 1986 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | May 18, 2020 | 200.00K |
| Flood | Oct 2, 2019 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Apr 17, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 27, 2011 | 0.00 |
| Flash Flood | Jun 21, 2011 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Jun 21, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 21, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 31, 2010 | 200.00K |
| Flood | Jun 15, 2010 | 350.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2009 | 25.00K |
Flood — May 18, 2020
Significant rainfall fell across all of Lower Michigan on May 17 and 18 with many locations in Southwest Lower Michigan reporting over 3 inches of rain. This was the culmination of an already wet week that had experienced three separate episodes of heavy rain. As a result, soil was already saturated and this additional rain immediately became runoff instead of soaking into the ground. There we...
Flood — Oct 2, 2019
Two to nearly five inches of rain fell across portions of west central lower Michigan and resulted in some flooding of area roads and low lying areas. Several roads were closed.
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...
Flash Flood — Jul 27, 2011
Several rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms moved across southwest lower Michigan from July 27 to July 29, flooding roadways and intersections across areas near to mainly south of Interstate 96. The most significant impacts from flash flooding occurred in and near the Lansing area. Radar estimated that 6 to 10 inches of rain fell from July 27 to 29 near and southwest of Lansing.
Flash 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...
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 Kent 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 Kent 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.