St. Clair Inn · Photo: Notorious4life · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in St. Clair than in 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. Clair gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #261 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1985.
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 St. Clair 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.
What’s behind St. Clair’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in St. Clair, and St. Clair’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 6%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #261 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of St. Clair’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Michigan town has lower expected damage than 77% of U.S. towns; within the state, St. Clair has less expected damage per building than 63% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across St. Clair: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does St. Clair flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in St. Clair, from FEMA’s records: 2.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 56% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
St. Clair isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: St. Clair County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to St. Clair
Disasters that paid out in St. Clair itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of St. Clair), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding10 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
- 2000Snow$11K to the City of St. Clair for repairs
St. Clair County has had 8 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 St. Clair after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the St. Clair archive →St. Clair and its neighbors
St. Clair has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Clair | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| St. Clair Township | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| China Township | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| East China Township | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 109 |
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 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 St. Clair
Is St. Clair at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. Clair has lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #261 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and tornadoes (9%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does St. Clair flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in St. Clair since 1985, $7K in all, or 2.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 56% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is St. Clair 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 St. Clair County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in St. Clair?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for St. Clair’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 St. Clair?
By FEMA money that reached St. Clair, Snow (2000): $11K to the City of St. Clair for repairs.
Is St. Clair at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and St. Clair’s rate for it is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in St. Clair.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where St. Clair’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.