Photo: Dwight Burdette · CC BY 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Dearborn Heights than in 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dearborn Heights gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #378 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 420 claims here since 1979.
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 Dearborn Heights’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Dearborn Heights 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 Dearborn Heights’ grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Dearborn Heights, and Dearborn Heights’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 7% (higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #378 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Dearborn Heights’ residents live in 16 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, Dearborn Heights has more expected damage per building than 54% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.8M a year in losses across Dearborn Heights: $6.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Dearborn Heights flood? Yes: 420 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Dearborn Heights, from FEMA’s records: 17.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Dearborn Heights is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Wayne County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Dearborn Heights
Disasters that paid out in Dearborn Heights itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Dearborn Heights), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding2,690 households applied for aid$11.6M aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes2,310 households applied for aid$3.9M aid approved$577K to the City of Dearborn Heights for repairs12 flood claims paid that year
- 2014Severe Storms and Flooding1,348 households applied for aid$1.9M aid approved$221K to the City of Dearborn Heights for repairs120 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding520 households applied for aid$711K aid approved85 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99$56K to the City of Dearborn Heights for repairs
Wayne County has had 13 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 Dearborn Heights after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Dearborn Heights archive →Dearborn Heights and its neighbors
Dearborn Heights is 5th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westland | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Redford Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Inkster | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Detroit | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 379 |
| Dearborn Heights | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 420 |
| Taylor | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Dearborn | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 53 |
| Allen Park | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
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 Dearborn Heights 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.
- Dearborn Heights residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Dearborn Heights
Is Dearborn Heights at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dearborn Heights has lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #378 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and tornadoes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Dearborn Heights flood?
Flood insurance has paid 420 claims in Dearborn Heights since 1979, $3.3M in all, or 17.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 58 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Dearborn Heights 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 Wayne County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Dearborn Heights?
Dearborn Heights is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% 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 Dearborn Heights?
By FEMA money that reached Dearborn Heights, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2023): 2,690 households applied for aid, $11.6M approved.
Is Dearborn Heights at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Dearborn Heights’ rate for it is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Dearborn Heights.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Dearborn Heights’ 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.