Enter any address in St. Joseph County, Michigan to see its FEMA flood zone
2 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
St. Joseph County, Michigan has recorded 6 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 1 flash floods and 5 river or area floods. The county has received 8 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1978–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Dec 11, 2000 |
| Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 | Snowstorm | Jan 2, 1999 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Sep 8, 1980 |
| Blizzards & Snowstorms | Snowstorm | Jan 27, 1978 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Feb 20, 2018 | 680.00K |
| Flood | Jul 18, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 13, 2008 | 500.00K |
| Flood | Feb 24, 1997 | — |
| Flood | Mar 1, 1997 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 1996 | — |
Flood — Feb 20, 2018
A slow release of a snow pack, containing one to over two inches of water, occurred in the days leading to the event which started the process of river rises in many areas. Low pressure tracked from northwest Iowa into northern Lower Michigan, which ushered in a rapid warmup and equally rapid release of any remaining water in the snowpack. Several rounds of rain occurred between the 19th and 21...
Flood — Jul 18, 2015
Weak shortwave trough moving through upper Michigan combined with retreating outflow boundary from morning/early afternoon storms, which moved through northern Indiana/northwest Ohio, spurned new storm development from southern Wisconsin southeast through northeast Illinois by later afternoon. Storms were initially sub-severe and disorganized, but a bowing segment developed as cold pool strengt...
Flood — Sep 13, 2008
Moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lowell and Hurricane Ike moved into the region and interacted with a stationary boundary to bring heavy rainfall to portions of far southern lower Michigan starting on the 11th, extending into the early morning hours of the 15th. Widespread reports of 8 to as much as 12 inches of rain were received across Berrien and Cass counties. A portion of the N...
Flood — Feb 24, 1997
A spring like storm system developed over Western Texas on the 20th and tracked into Southern Michigan on Friday, the 21st. A warm moist flow of air from the Gulf of Mexico fed the storm and produced a few thunderstorms with moderate to heavy amounts of rain across Southwest Lower Michigan. The rain began on the afternoon of the 20th and continued through the 21st before changing to snow late...
Flood — Mar 1, 1997
A spring like storm system developed ofter Western Texas on the 20th of February and tracked into Southern Michigan on Friday, the 21st. A warm moist flow of air from the Gulf of Mexico fed the storm and produced a few thunderstorms with moderate to heavy amounts of rain across Southwest Lower Michigan. The rain began on the afternoon of the 20th and continued through the 21st before changing...
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 St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph 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.