Marine City Water Works · Photo: Notorious4life · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Marine City 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, Marine City gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #628 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 35 claims here since 1982.
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 Marine 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
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 Marine City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Marine City, and Marine City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 4%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #628 of 701 in Michigan; higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Marine 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, Marine City has more expected damage per building than 90% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Marine City: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Marine City flood? Sometimes: 35 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Marine City, from FEMA’s records: 15.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Marine 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: St. Clair County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Marine City
Disasters that paid out in Marine City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Marine City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding3 households applied for aid$4K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
St. Clair County has had 8 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 Marine City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Marine City archive →Marine City and its neighbors
Marine City is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cottrellville Township | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| China Township | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Marine City | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| East China Township | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 109 |
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 Marine 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.
- 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 Marine City
Is Marine City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marine City has higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #628 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and tornadoes (6%). 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 Marine City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 35 claims in Marine City since 1982, $210K in all, or 15.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Marine 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 St. Clair County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Marine City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Marine City’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 Marine City?
By FEMA money that reached Marine City, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2004): 3 households applied for aid, $4K approved.
Is Marine City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Marine City’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Marine City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Marine 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.