New Center Commercial Historic District · Photo: Andrew Jameson · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Ecorse faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ecorse gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #589 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 59 claims here since 2011.
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 Ecorse 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 Ecorse’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ecorse, and Ecorse’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts).
B #589 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ecorse’s residents live in 5 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, Ecorse has more expected damage per building than 84% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.4M a year in losses across Ecorse: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ecorse flood? Sometimes: 59 flood claims since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ecorse, from FEMA’s records: 14.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Ecorse isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Wayne County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ecorse
Disasters that paid out in Ecorse itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Ecorse), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding696 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved12 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes341 households applied for aid$624K aid approved
- 2014Severe Storms and Flooding651 households applied for aid$859K aid approved$28K to the City of Ecorse for repairs22 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding489 households applied for aid$188K aid approved
- 1999Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99$27K to the City of Ecorse 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 Ecorse after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ecorse archive →Ecorse and its neighbors
Ecorse is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 379 |
| Wyandotte | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| River Rouge | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Ecorse | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Lincoln Park | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
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 Ecorse 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 Ecorse
Is Ecorse at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ecorse has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #589 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ecorse flood?
Flood insurance has paid 59 claims in Ecorse since 2011, $291K in all, or 14.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Ecorse 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 Ecorse?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ecorse’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Ecorse?
By FEMA money that reached Ecorse, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2023): 696 households applied for aid, $1.3M approved.
Is Ecorse at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Ecorse’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ecorse.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ecorse’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.