FEMA puts Burr Oak Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Burr Oak Township gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, #359 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Burr Oak Township faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hail
Tornadoes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Burr Oak Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Burr Oak Township, and Burr Oak Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hail at 8% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #359 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Burr Oak Township’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Michigan town has lower expected damage than 77% of U.S. towns; within the state, Burr Oak Township has more expected damage per building than 51% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $716K a year in losses across Burr Oak Township: $470K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Burr Oak Township flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Burr Oak Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Burr Oak Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: St. Joseph County.The storms Burr Oak Township remembers
None of the 5 disasters declared for St. Joseph County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Burr Oak Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
St. Joseph County has had 5 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Burr Oak Township and its neighbors
Burr Oak Township is 4th of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sturgis | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Fawn River Township | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Sherman Township | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Burr Oak Township | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Bronson Township | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Colon Township | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Burr Oak Township faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Burr Oak Township
Is Burr Oak Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Burr Oak Township has lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #359 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and hail (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Burr Oak Township in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In St. Joseph County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Burr Oak Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Burr Oak Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Burr Oak Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Burr Oak Township’s rate for it is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Burr Oak Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Burr Oak Township’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.