Photo: The original uploader was Decumanus at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in St. Clair Shores as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. Clair Shores gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #656 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%), then tornadoes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 278 claims here since 1981.
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 St. Clair Shores’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What St. Clair Shores 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 St. Clair Shores’ grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in St. Clair Shores, and St. Clair Shores’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 11% (higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #656 of 701 in Michigan; higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
St. Clair Shores’ residents live in 23 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, St. Clair Shores has more expected damage per building than 94% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $20.5M a year in losses across St. Clair Shores: $14.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does St. Clair Shores flood? Yes: 278 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in St. Clair Shores, from FEMA’s records: 9.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike1 claim · $10K
St. Clair Shores isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Macomb County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to St. Clair Shores
Disasters that paid out in St. Clair Shores itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of St. Clair Shores), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding485 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2021Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes159 households applied for aid$192K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2014Severe Storms and Flooding758 households applied for aid$532K aid approved$94K to the City of St. Clair Shores for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding56 households applied for aid$40K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Snow$25K to the City of St. Clair Shores for repairs
- 1999Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99$24K to the City of St. Clair Shores for repairs
Macomb County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of St. Clair Shores after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the St. Clair Shores archive →St. Clair Shores and its neighbors
St. Clair Shores 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastpointe | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Roseville | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Clinton Township | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 63 |
| St. Clair Shores | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 278 |
| Village of Grosse Pointe Shores | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
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 St. Clair Shores 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 St. Clair Shores
Is St. Clair Shores at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. Clair Shores has higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #656 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and tornadoes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does St. Clair Shores flood?
Flood insurance has paid 278 claims in St. Clair Shores since 1981, $608K in all, or 9.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (1).
Is St. Clair Shores 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 Macomb County, 30% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in St. Clair Shores?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for St. Clair Shores’ 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 St. Clair Shores?
By FEMA money that reached St. Clair Shores, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2023): 485 households applied for aid, $1.1M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 1 paid, $10K.
Is St. Clair Shores at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and St. Clair Shores’ rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in St. Clair Shores.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where St. Clair Shores’ 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.