Photo: Gpwitteveen · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Grand Haven Township than in 60% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Grand Haven Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #562 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 18 claims here since 1985.
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 Grand Haven Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Grand Haven 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 Grand Haven Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Grand Haven Township, and Grand Haven Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 6% (higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts).
B #562 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Grand Haven Township’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, Grand Haven Township has more expected damage per building than 80% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.2M a year in losses across Grand Haven Township: $3.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Grand Haven Township flood? Sometimes: 18 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Grand Haven Township, from FEMA’s records: 2.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Grand Haven Township is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Ottawa County.The storms Grand Haven Township remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for Ottawa County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Grand Haven Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19857 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20193 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20203 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Ottawa 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 Grand Haven Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Grand Haven Township archive →Grand Haven Township and its neighbors
Grand Haven Township is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Haven | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Port Sheldon Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Spring Lake Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Grand Haven Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Robinson Township | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 47 |
| Spring Lake | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
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 Grand Haven 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.
- Grand Haven Township residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Grand Haven Township
Is Grand Haven Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Grand Haven Township has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #562 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and tornadoes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Grand Haven Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 18 claims in Grand Haven Township since 1985, $299K in all, or 2.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Grand Haven 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 Ottawa County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Grand Haven Township?
Grand Haven Township is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% 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.
Is Grand Haven Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Grand Haven Township’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Grand Haven Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Grand Haven 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.