Kittie C. McCoy House · Photo: Traveler100 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Commerce Township than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Commerce Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #205 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%), then tornadoes (23%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2002.
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 Commerce Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Commerce 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 Commerce Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Commerce Township, and Commerce Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 23%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
A #205 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Commerce Township’s residents live in 11 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, Commerce Township has less expected damage per building than 71% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $12.5M a year in losses across Commerce Township: $7.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Commerce Township flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2002
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Commerce Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Commerce Township is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Oakland County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Commerce Township
Disasters that paid out in Commerce Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Commerce Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$300 aid approved
Oakland County has had 11 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 Commerce Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Commerce Township archive →Commerce Township and its neighbors
Commerce Township is 5th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walled Lake | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Wixom | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | — |
| White Lake Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| West Bloomfield Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Commerce Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Wolverine Lake | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Milford Township | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Commerce 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.
- Commerce Township residents get 05% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Commerce Township
Is Commerce Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Commerce Township has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #205 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%) and tornadoes (23%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Commerce Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Commerce Township since 2002, $23K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Commerce 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 Oakland County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Commerce Township?
Commerce Township is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Commerce Township?
By FEMA money that reached Commerce Township, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2023): 2 households applied for aid, $300 approved.
Is Commerce Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Commerce Township’s rate for it is lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Commerce Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Commerce 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.