Photo: rossograph · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Spring Lake than in 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Spring Lake gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #661 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1986.
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 Spring Lake 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
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 Spring Lake’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Spring Lake, and Spring Lake’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #661 of 701 in Michigan; higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Spring Lake’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, Spring Lake has more expected damage per building than 94% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $900K a year in losses across Spring Lake: $783K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Spring Lake flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1986
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Spring Lake, from FEMA’s records: 7.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Spring Lake isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Ottawa County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Spring Lake
Disasters that paid out in Spring Lake itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Spring Lake), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding4 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
Ottawa 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 Spring Lake after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Spring Lake archive →Spring Lake and its neighbors
Spring Lake is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Haven | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Spring Lake Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Grand Haven Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Spring Lake | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Ferrysburg | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
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 Spring Lake 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.
- 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 Spring Lake
Is Spring Lake at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Spring Lake has higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #661 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Spring Lake flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Spring Lake since 1986, $131K in all, or 7.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Spring Lake 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 Ottawa County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Spring Lake?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Spring Lake’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 Spring Lake?
By FEMA money that reached Spring Lake, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2004): 4 households applied for aid, $6K approved.
Is Spring Lake at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Spring Lake’s rate for it is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Spring Lake.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Spring Lake’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.