Photo: Notorious4life at English Wikipedia · Public domainLess hazard damage per building is expected in Imlay City than in 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Imlay City gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #89 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%), then tornadoes (17%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1996.
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 Imlay City 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 Imlay City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 65% of the building damage FEMA expects in Imlay City, and Imlay City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 87% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 11%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
A #89 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Imlay City’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Michigan town has lower expected damage than 77% of U.S. towns; within the state, Imlay City has less expected damage per building than 87% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Imlay City: $697K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Imlay City flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Imlay City, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Imlay City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lapeer County.The storms Imlay City remembers
None of the 7 disasters declared for Lapeer County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Imlay City itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20092 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19961 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Lapeer County
Lapeer County has had 7 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Imlay City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Imlay City archive →Get ready for what Imlay City 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 Imlay City
Is Imlay City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Imlay City has lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #89 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%) and tornadoes (17%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Imlay City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Imlay City since 1996, $19K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Imlay City 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 Lapeer County, 8% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Imlay City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Imlay City’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Imlay City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (65%), and Imlay City’s rate for it is lower than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Imlay City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Imlay City’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.