Photo: Dave Parker · CC BY 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Northville Township than in 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Northville Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #62 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%), then tornadoes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1989.
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 Northville 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 Northville Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Northville Township, and Northville Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts).
A #62 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Northville 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, Northville Township has less expected damage per building than 91% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.5M a year in losses across Northville Township: $5.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Northville Township flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1989
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Northville Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Northville 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: Wayne County.The storms Northville Township remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for Wayne County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Northville Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19891 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20001 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Wayne County
- 20111 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Wayne 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 Northville Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Northville Township archive →Northville Township and its neighbors
Northville Township is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth Township | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Northville Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Novi | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Northville | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Salem Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
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 Northville 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Northville Township
Is Northville Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Northville Township has lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #62 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Northville Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Northville Township since 1989, $254K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Northville 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 Wayne County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Northville Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Northville Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Northville Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Northville Township’s rate for it is lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Northville Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Northville 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.