Photo: Traveler100 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Walled Lake than in 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Walled Lake gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #69 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%), then tornadoes (26%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Walled 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
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 Walled Lake’s grade
River and rain flooding is 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Walled Lake, and Walled Lake’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 88% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 26%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
A #69 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Walled 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, Walled Lake has less expected damage per building than 90% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Walled Lake: $897K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Walled Lake flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Walled Lake. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Walled 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: Oakland County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Walled Lake
Disasters that paid out in Walled Lake itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Walled Lake), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding21 households applied for aid$14K aid approved
- 2000Snow$8K to the City of Walled Lake for repairs
- 1999Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99$5K to the City of Walled Lake for repairs
Oakland County has had 11 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 Walled Lake after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Walled Lake archive →Walled Lake and its neighbors
Walled Lake 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walled Lake | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Novi | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Commerce Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Wolverine Lake | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Walled 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.
- 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 Walled Lake
Is Walled Lake at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Walled Lake has lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #69 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%) and tornadoes (26%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Walled 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 Oakland County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Walled Lake?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Walled 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 Walled Lake?
By FEMA money that reached Walled Lake, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2023): 21 households applied for aid, $14K approved.
Is Walled Lake at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Walled Lake’s rate for it is lower than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Walled Lake.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Walled 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.