North Watervliet Road-Paw Paw Lake Outlet Bridge · Photo: Michigan State Highway Department · Public domainLess hazard damage per building is expected in Watervliet Township than in 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Watervliet Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #215 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 22 claims here since 1979.
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 Watervliet Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Watervliet 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
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 Watervliet Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Watervliet Township, and Watervliet Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 9% (higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts).
A #215 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Watervliet Township’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, Watervliet Township has less expected damage per building than 69% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $833K a year in losses across Watervliet Township: $580K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Watervliet Township flood? Sometimes: 22 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Watervliet Township, from FEMA’s records: 11.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Watervliet 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: Berrien County.The storms Watervliet Township remembers
None of the 9 disasters declared for Berrien County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Watervliet Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19799 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19827 flood claims paidThe year of Flooding, declared for Berrien County
- 19855 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Berrien County has had 9 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Watervliet Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Watervliet Township archive →Watervliet Township and its neighbors
Watervliet Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watervliet Township | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Coloma Township | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Hartford Township | Bless damage than 61% | 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 Watervliet 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.
- 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 Watervliet Township
Is Watervliet Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Watervliet Township has lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #215 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) 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 Watervliet Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 22 claims in Watervliet Township since 1979, $68K in all, or 11.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Watervliet 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 Berrien County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Watervliet Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Watervliet Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Watervliet Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Watervliet Township’s rate for it is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Watervliet Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Watervliet 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.