Enter any address in Lake County, Michigan to see its FEMA flood zone
6 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Lake County, Michigan has recorded 9 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 6 flash floods and 3 river or area floods. The county has received 8 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1977–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 6, 2008 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Sep 10, 1986 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Sep 5, 1985 |
| Blizzards & Snowstorms | Snowstorm | Jan 27, 1978 |
| Drought | Drought | Mar 2, 1977 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jul 20, 2019 | 800.00K |
| Flood | Apr 17, 2013 | 3.00M |
| Flash Flood | May 3, 2012 | 70.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 2, 2011 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 13, 2008 | 2.00M |
| Flood | May 23, 2004 | 1M |
| Flash Flood | Feb 9, 2001 | 100K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 6, 1998 | 10K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 21, 1997 | — |
Flood — Jul 20, 2019
A round of severe storms resulted in numerous reports of downed trees and power lines. Peak wind gusts were estimated at up to around 70 to 80 mph. In addition 6 to 10 inches of rain fell across much of Mason and Lake counties. There were several road washouts, a few culvert failures, and a couple of bridge washouts. At least 48 homes were damaged by water in Lake county.
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 — May 3, 2012
An upper low moving over a warm front that stretched across northern Lower Michigan set the stage for heavy rainfall on May 3rd. Training thunderstorms (storms that move over the same location) produced 5 to 7 inches of rainfall across portions of Mason and Lake counties. The heavy rainfall resulted in roads that were either flooded or washed out. As the day progressed, strong to severe storms...
Flash Flood — Aug 2, 2011
An isolated severe thunderstorm produced wind damage in Big Rapids, where emergency management reported that 15 trees were snapped off or blown down. Flooding also occurred in Big Rapids. The Robin Hood airport in Big Rapids received 5.97 inches of rainfall.
Flash Flood — Jun 13, 2008
A round of strong to severe thunderstorms accompanied by very heavy rainfall resulted in significant flash flooding across Mason and Lake 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 Lake 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 Lake 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.