Durant-Dort Carriage Company Office · Photo: Andrew Jameson · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Flint than in 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Flint gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #515 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then tornadoes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 121 claims here since 1978.
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 Flint’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Flint 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
Strong wind
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 Flint’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Flint, and Flint’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 6%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #515 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Flint’s residents live in 41 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, Flint has more expected damage per building than 73% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $26.8M a year in losses across Flint: $18.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Flint flood? Yes: 121 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Flint, from FEMA’s records: 2.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike2 claims · $8K
Flint isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Genesee County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Flint
Disasters that paid out in Flint itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Flint), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding759 households applied for aid$242K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Snow$60K to the City of Flint for repairs
Genesee County has had 9 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Flint after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Flint archive →Flint and its neighbors
Flint is 6th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flint Township | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Mundy Township | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Mount Morris Township | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Genesee Township | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Burton | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 60 |
| Flint | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 121 |
| Beecher | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Flint 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.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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 Flint
Is Flint at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Flint has lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #515 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and tornadoes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Flint flood?
Flood insurance has paid 121 claims in Flint since 1978, $1.3M in all, or 2.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 22 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (2).
Is Flint 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 Genesee County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Flint?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Flint’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 Flint?
By FEMA money that reached Flint, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2004): 759 households applied for aid, $242K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 2 paid, $8K.
Is Flint at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Flint’s rate for it is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Flint.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Flint’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.