Natural hazards · Ypsilanti

Ypsilanti, MI natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Ypsilanti comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1983. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Ypsilanti?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Ypsilanti to be higher than in 34% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding55%Tornadoes20%Cold waves11%Strong wind6%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Ypsilanti faces

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

Inland flooding

55% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 50% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

20% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 82% of U.S. places

Cold waves

11% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 73% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Strong wind

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 91% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightning

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 Ypsilanti flood?

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

3paid claims since 1983

$20Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19832026

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. Ypsilanti isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Washtenaw County.

Disasters that hit Ypsilanti

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into YpsilantiDeclared for Washtenaw County only

2026

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

62 households applied for aid $68K aid approved

2021

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

478 households applied for aid $769K aid approved

2004

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

58 households applied for aid $36K aid approved

2000

Snow

$15K to the City of Ypsilanti for repairs

1999

Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99

$19K to the City of Ypsilanti for repairs

Washtenaw County has had 9 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often winter storms and floods.

Around Ypsilanti

Ypsilanti and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Ypsilantimostly 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. Ypsilanti covers 8 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Ypsilanti’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Ypsilanti. 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 Ypsilanti total about $5.2M 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.