Storms, floods and disasters in Shields
Shields isn’t graded for hazard risk: Shields is a Census area inside a town, graded with the town. Flood insurance has paid 77 claims here since 1986.
What Shields 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
Strong wind
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.
Does Shields flood? Sometimes: 77 flood claims since 1986
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Shields, from FEMA’s records.
- The 2026-04-Flooding1 claim · $2K
Shields isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Saginaw County.The storms Shields remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Saginaw County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Shields itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 202052 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Saginaw County
- 198613 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Saginaw County
- 20176 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Saginaw County has had 15 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 Shields after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Shields archive →Shields and its neighbors
How expected damage per building compares across the town line. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Township | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 83 |
| James Township | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 52 |
| Saginaw Township | — | not graded yet | |
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 Shields 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.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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 Shields
Does Shields flood?
Flood insurance has paid 77 claims in Shields since 1986, $2.5M in all. The most claims came from 2026-04-Flooding (1).
Is Shields 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 Saginaw County, 1.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Shields?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Shields’ 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 Shields?
By flood claims, 2026-04-Flooding: 1 paid, $2K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Shields.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Shields’ 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.