FEMA puts Thomas Township’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 61% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Thomas Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, #659 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 83 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 Thomas 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
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 Thomas Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Thomas Township, and Thomas Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 5%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #659 of 701 in Michigan; higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Thomas Township’s residents live in 3 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, Thomas Township has more expected damage per building than 94% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.6M a year in losses across Thomas Township: $3.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Thomas Township flood? Sometimes: 83 flood claims since 1986
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Thomas Township, from FEMA’s records: 15.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2026-04-Flooding1 claim · $2K
Thomas 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: Saginaw County.The storms Thomas Township remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Saginaw County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Thomas Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 202055 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Saginaw County
- 198615 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Saginaw County
- 20177 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 Thomas Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Thomas Township archive →Thomas Township and its neighbors
Thomas Township 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richland Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Swan Creek Township | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Tittabawassee Township | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| 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 | |
| Shields | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Thomas 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.
- 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 Thomas Township
Is Thomas Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Thomas Township has higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #659 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and tornadoes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Thomas Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 83 claims in Thomas Township since 1986, $2.7M in all, or 15.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from 2026-04-Flooding (1).
Is Thomas 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 Saginaw County, 1.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Thomas Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Thomas Township’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 Thomas Township?
By flood claims, 2026-04-Flooding: 1 paid, $2K.
Is Thomas Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Thomas Township’s rate for it is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Thomas Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Thomas 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.