Natural hazards · Washington

Washington, MI natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Washington comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Washington?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Washington to be higher than in 20% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding52%Tornadoes22%Cold waves16%Everything else10%

By hazard

What Washington faces

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

Inland flooding

52% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 33% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

22% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 79% of U.S. places

Cold waves

16% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 53% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Washington flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Washington.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Macomb County.

Disasters that hit Washington

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Washington itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Township of Washington.

Brought FEMA money into WashingtonDeclared for Macomb County only

2023

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

16 households applied for aid $25K aid approved

2021

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

11 households applied for aid $45K aid approved

2014

Severe Storms and Flooding

7 households applied for aid $5K aid approved

2004

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

18 households applied for aid $30K aid approved

Macomb County has had 15 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and severe storms.

Around Washington

Washington and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Raymostly inland floodingModerate

Shelbymostly inland floodingLow

Brucemostly inland floodingLow

Washingtonmostly inland floodingLow

Oaklandmostly inland floodingVery low

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. Washington covers 5 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Washington’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of Washington. 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 Washington total about $7.6M 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.