62 flood insurance claims·$106,288 paid·4 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Shiawassee County, Michigan. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
River flooding dominates Shiawassee County, accounting for 12 of the 15 total flood events recorded over the last 30 years in the NOAA Storm Events Database, alongside 3 flash flood events. Significant historical events include a winter storm in February 2018 caused by repeated rounds of heavy rainfall and record warmth that melted the snowpack, as well as severe storms in May 2012 that produced training showers and thunderstorms.
Federal insurance records show historical flood claims spanning multiple zones, indicating that property risk extends beyond traditional high-risk areas. The highest number of claims occurred in Zone UNKNOWN with 26 claims averaging a payout of $2,873 and an average recorded water depth of 2 inches, closely followed by Zone A with 25 claims averaging a payout of $4,231 and an average recorded water depth of 23 inches. Additional claims include 5 in Zone X with an average payout of $5,149 and an average water depth of 32 inches, 4 in Zone X_UNSHADED with an average payout of $6,706 and an average water depth of 6 inches, and 2 in Zone X_SHADED with an average payout of $2,050 and an average water depth of 0 inches. Homeowners and real estate agents with properties in Zone A and Zone UNKNOWN should pay the most attention to flood risk given the high concentration of historical claims in these areas.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
19% of Shiawassee County’s flood insurance claims were on properties rated outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
31 NFIP claims with a recorded rated flood zone, 1978 to date. The zone is the one FEMA used to rate that policy, which may not match today’s map. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 12 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 1981, with 21 claims and $18,550 paid.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
3 NOAA storm reports from Shiawassee County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Michigan flood stories →
14 federal disaster declarations since 1965, 4 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | May 20, 2004 |
| Snow | Dec 11, 2000 |
| Severe Storms | May 29, 1998 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Sep 10, 1986 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Sep 5, 1985 |
| Blizzards & Snowstorms | Jan 27, 1978 |
| Snowstorms | Feb 5, 1977 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
15 since 1996: 3 flash floods and 12 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jan 11, 2020 | — |
| Flood | Feb 20, 2018 | — |
| Flood | May 4, 2012 | — |
| Flash Flood | May 4, 2012 | $1.1M |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2009 | — |
| Flood | Sep 14, 2008 | $50,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jun 27, 2007 | $1,000 |
| Flood | Jan 13, 2005 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flood · Jan 11, 2020. A winter storm tracking through southeast Michigan brought heavy rain and freezing rain, with about a quarter of an inch ice from US-10 south to about M-57. Many accidents and spin outs occurred across the Tri-Cities region and Flint vicinity due to the icy roads. In addition, strong northeast winds lead to high water levels and large waves causing significant lakeshore flooding and erosion along Bay, Tuscola, and…
Flood · Feb 20, 2018. A series of disturbances traveling along a slow-moving frontal boundary to the west of Southeast Michigan brought repeated rounds of heavy rainfall to the region over a 48 hour period. As the main low pressure system moved northeastward from the Central Plains to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on Tuesday, February 20, record high moisture content for February standards moved into Southeast Michigan. Record warmth…
Flood · May 4, 2012. A few severe storms developed, mainly north of M-59 during the late afternoon and evening hours. Training of showers and thunderstorms then dumped half a foot of rain on the Flint area, stranding cars on roadways and forcing the boat evacuation of some residents.
Flash Flood · May 4, 2012. A few severe storms developed, mainly north of M-59 during the late afternoon and evening hours. Training of showers and thunderstorms then dumped half a foot of rain on the Flint area, stranding cars on roadways and forcing the boat evacuation of some residents.
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Shiawassee County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.