Detroit Finnish Co-operative Summer Camp · Photo: Elena Dagg · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Wixom faces less hazard damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wixom gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #116 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%), then tornadoes (30%). 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 Wixom 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 Wixom’s grade
River and rain flooding is 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wixom, and Wixom’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 83% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 30%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
A #116 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wixom’s residents live in 5 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, Wixom has less expected damage per building than 84% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.6M a year in losses across Wixom: $2.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wixom flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Wixom. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Wixom 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.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wixom
Disasters that paid out in Wixom itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Wixom), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding23 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
- 2021Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes7 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
- 2000Snow$10K to the City of Wixom for repairs
- 1999Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99$8K to the City of Wixom 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 Wixom after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wixom archive →Wixom and its neighbors
Wixom is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novi | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Wixom | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Commerce Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Lyon Township | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Milford Township | A−less damage than 77% | 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 Wixom 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 Wixom
Is Wixom at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wixom has lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #116 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%) and tornadoes (30%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Wixom 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 Wixom?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wixom’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 Wixom?
By FEMA money that reached Wixom, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2023): 23 households applied for aid, $13K approved.
Is Wixom at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Wixom’s rate for it is lower than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wixom.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wixom’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.