FEMA puts Burtchville Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 78% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Burtchville Township gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, #335 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 13 claims here since 1987.
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 stands out about Burtchville Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Burtchville 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
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 Burtchville Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Burtchville Township, and Burtchville Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 7% (higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #335 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Burtchville Township’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Michigan town has lower expected damage than 77% of U.S. towns; within the state, Burtchville Township has less expected damage per building than 52% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Burtchville Township: $845K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Burtchville Township flood? Sometimes: 13 flood claims since 1987
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Burtchville Township, from FEMA’s records: 6.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Burtchville 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. Clair County.The storms Burtchville Township remembers
None of the 8 disasters declared for St. Clair County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Burtchville Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19877 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20204 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20191 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
St. Clair County has had 8 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Burtchville Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Burtchville Township archive →Burtchville Township and its neighbors
Burtchville Township is 2nd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Gratiot Township | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Burtchville Township | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Grant Township | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Worth Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Lakeport | — | 742 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Burtchville 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.
- 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 Burtchville Township
Is Burtchville Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Burtchville Township has lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #335 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and tornadoes (7%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Burtchville Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 13 claims in Burtchville Township since 1987, $101K in all, or 6.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Burtchville 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. Clair County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Burtchville Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Burtchville Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Burtchville Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Burtchville Township’s rate for it is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Burtchville Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Burtchville 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.