Natural hazards · South Haven

South Haven, MI natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in South Haven comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1997. 2 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is South Haven?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in South Haven to be higher than in 29% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hail.

Inland flooding50%Hail16%Tornadoes15%Strong wind10%Everything else9%

By hazard

What South Haven faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

50% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 25% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

Hail

16% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

15% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 78% of U.S. places

Strong wind

10% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingHurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightning

Not a risk here

DroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does South Haven flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in South Haven, from FEMA’s records.

8paid claims since 1997

$75Kpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19972026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Ike: 1 claim, $5K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. South Haven isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Van Buren County.

Disasters that hit South Haven

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in South Haven itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of South Haven.

Brought FEMA money into South HavenDeclared for Van Buren County only

2000

Snow

$7K to the City of South Haven for repairs

1999

Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99

$7K to the City of South Haven for repairs

Van Buren County has had 11 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often winter storms and floods.

Around South Haven

South Haven and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Cascomostly inland floodingLow

South Havenmostly inland floodingLow

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. South Haven covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to South Haven’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of South Haven. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across South Haven total about $1.8M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.