Photo: brewbooks · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Plainfield Township 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, Plainfield Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #569 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 175 claims here since 1979.
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 Plainfield Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Plainfield 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 Plainfield Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Plainfield Township, and Plainfield Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B #569 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Plainfield 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, Plainfield Township has more expected damage per building than 81% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.6M a year in losses across Plainfield Township: $7.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Plainfield Township flood? Yes: 175 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Plainfield Township, from FEMA’s records: 12.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2026-04-Flooding1 claim · $4K
Plainfield 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: Kent County.The storms Plainfield Township remembers
None of the 10 disasters declared for Kent County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Plainfield Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201345 flood claims paidThe year of Flooding, declared for Kent County
- 200433 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared for Kent County
- 201818 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Kent County has had 10 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 Plainfield Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Plainfield Township archive →Plainfield Township and its neighbors
Plainfield Township is 7th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine Township | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Grand Rapids Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Cannon Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Ada Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Rockford | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Algoma Township | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Plainfield Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 175 |
| Northview | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Forest Hills | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Plainfield 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 Plainfield Township
Is Plainfield Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Plainfield Township has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #569 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Plainfield Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 175 claims in Plainfield Township since 1979, $2.7M in all, or 12.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from 2026-04-Flooding (1).
Is Plainfield 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 Kent County, 0.3% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Plainfield Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Plainfield Township’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 Plainfield Township?
By flood claims, 2026-04-Flooding: 1 paid, $4K.
Is Plainfield Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Plainfield Township’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Plainfield Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Plainfield 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.