Photo: Chris Light · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Constantine Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Constantine Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #634 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2018.
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 Constantine 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
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 Constantine Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Constantine Township, and Constantine Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hail at 6% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #634 of 701 in Michigan; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Constantine 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, Constantine Township has more expected damage per building than 90% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Constantine Township: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Constantine Township flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2018
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Constantine Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Constantine 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 Constantine Township remembers
None of the 5 disasters declared for St. Joseph County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Constantine Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20182 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
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.
Old photos of Constantine Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Constantine Township archive →Constantine Township and its neighbors
Constantine Township is 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porter Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Fabius Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Mottville Township | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Florence Township | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Constantine Township | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
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 Constantine 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.
- 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 Constantine Township
Is Constantine Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Constantine Township has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #634 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hail (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Constantine Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Constantine Township since 2018, $11K in all, or 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Constantine 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 Constantine Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Constantine Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Constantine Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Constantine Township’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Constantine Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Constantine 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.