FEMA puts Zilwaukee’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Zilwaukee gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 7 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 Zilwaukee 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 Zilwaukee’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Zilwaukee, and Zilwaukee’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 5%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Zilwaukee’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $978K a year in losses across Zilwaukee: $808K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Zilwaukee flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1986
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Zilwaukee, from FEMA’s records: 8.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Zilwaukee is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Saginaw County.The storms Zilwaukee remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Saginaw County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Zilwaukee itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19864 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Saginaw County
- 19961 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Saginaw County
- 20081 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared for Saginaw County
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 Zilwaukee after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Zilwaukee archive →Zilwaukee and its neighbors
Zilwaukee is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buena Vista Township | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Zilwaukee | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Carrollton Township | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| Zilwaukee Township | — | 29 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Zilwaukee 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.
- Zilwaukee residents get 05% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Zilwaukee
Is Zilwaukee at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Zilwaukee has higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and tornadoes (6%). 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 Zilwaukee flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Zilwaukee since 1986, $34K in all, or 8.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Zilwaukee 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 Zilwaukee?
Zilwaukee is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Zilwaukee at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Zilwaukee’s rate for it is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Zilwaukee.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Zilwaukee’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.