FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Lockport Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lockport Township gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #596 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2008.
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 Lockport 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
Hail
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 Lockport Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lockport Township, and Lockport Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hail at 7% (higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #596 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lockport Township’s residents live in 7 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, Lockport Township has more expected damage per building than 85% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Lockport Township: $973K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lockport Township flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2008
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lockport Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Lockport Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: St. Joseph County.The storms Lockport Township remembers
None of the 5 disasters declared for St. Joseph County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Lockport Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20182 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20081 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
St. Joseph County has had 5 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Lockport Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lockport Township archive →Lockport Township and its neighbors
Lockport Township 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fabius Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Three Rivers | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 58 |
| Park Township | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lockport Township | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Nottawa Township | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Lockport 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 Lockport Township
Is Lockport Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lockport Township has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #596 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hail (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lockport Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Lockport Township since 2008, $47K in all, or 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Lockport 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 St. Joseph County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lockport Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lockport Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Lockport Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Lockport Township’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lockport Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lockport 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.