On FEMA’s figures, Salem 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, Salem Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #568 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2023.
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 Salem 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 Salem Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Salem Township, and Salem Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 6% (higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts).
B #568 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Salem Township’s residents live in 2 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, Salem Township has more expected damage per building than 81% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Salem Township: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Salem Township flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2023
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Salem Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Salem 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: Allegan County.The storms Salem Township remembers
None of the 14 disasters declared for Allegan County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Salem Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20231 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20241 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Allegan County has had 14 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 Salem Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Salem Township archive →Salem Township and its neighbors
Salem Township is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamestown Township | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Monterey Township | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Dorr Township | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Overisel Township | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Salem Township | Bless damage than 60% | 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 Salem 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 Salem Township
Is Salem Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Salem Township has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #568 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and tornadoes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Salem Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Salem Township since 2023, $160K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Salem 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 Allegan County, 0.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Salem Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Salem Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Salem Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Salem Township’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Salem Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Salem 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.