Natural Disasters in Sterling Heights, MI
Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data
Natural Hazard Risk
Source: FEMA National Risk IndexRisk Score
96.7
Relatively High
Expected Annual Loss
97.1
Score (0-100)
Social Vulnerability
27.1
Score (0-100)
Community Resilience
80.7
Score (0-100)
Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.
Disaster History & Federal Spending
Source: FEMATotal Declarations
18
Public Assistance
$10.4M
Individual Assistance
$71.1M
Most Common Type
Flood
6 declarations
Public Assistance by Category
| Disaster | Type | Date | PA $ | IA $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding → | Flood | Feb 2024 | — | $23.4M |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes → | Severe Storm | Jul 2021 | — | $3.1M |
| Covid-19 Pandemic → | Biological | Mar 2020 | $7.0M | $19.3M |
| Covid-19 → | Biological | Mar 2020 | — | — |
| Severe Storms and Flooding → | Flood | Sep 2014 | $1.8M | $24.6M |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation → | Hurricane | Sep 2005 | $1K | — |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding → | Severe Storm | Jun 2004 | — | $782K |
| Power Outage → | Other | Sep 2003 | $664K | — |
| Snow → | Snowstorm | Jan 2001 | $638K | — |
| Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 → | Snowstorm | Jan 1999 | $351K | — |
| Severe Storms and High Winds → | Severe Storm | Aug 1998 | — | — |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes,and Flooding → | Severe Storm | Jul 1997 | — | — |
| Severe Storms & Flooding → | Flood | Sep 1986 | — | — |
| Blizzards & Snowstorms → | Snowstorm | Jan 1978 | — | — |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Icing & Floodi… → | Severe Storm | Mar 1976 | — | — |
| Severe Storms, High Winds & Flooding → | Flood | Apr 1975 | — | — |
| Severe Storms & Flooding → | Flood | Apr 1973 | — | — |
| Severe Storms & Flooding → | Flood | Dec 1972 | — | — |
| Severe Storms and Flooding → | Unknown | — | — | — |
PA = FEMA Public Assistance (infrastructure recovery). IA = Individual Assistance (homeowner/renter aid).
Flood Insurance (NFIP)
Source: FEMA NFIPTotal Claims
1,435
Total Claims Paid
$8,943,646
Avg Claim Payout
$6,233
County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.
Hazard Mitigation
Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation AssistanceMitigation Projects
26
Federal Funding
$6,557,471
Properties Protected
16
Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio
1.24
BCR
Top Mitigation Project Types
| Project Type | Projects | Federal $ |
|---|---|---|
| 600.1: Warning Systems (as a Component of a Planned, Adopted, and Exercised Risk Reduction Plan) | 7 | $210,356 |
| 602.1: Other Equipment Purchase and Installation | 4 | $297,120 |
| 401.1: Water and Sanitary Sewer System Protective Measures | 3 | $2,050,236 |
| 200.3: Acquisition of Public Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine | 1 | $2,250 |
| 403.4: Stormwater Management - Detention/Retention Basins | 1 | $0 |
Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.
Sterling Heights has a relatively high overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are tornado, cold wave, strong wind. The area has had 18 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is flood (6 declarations). 1,435 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $10,370,389 in public assistance recovery funding. $71,065,544 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 26 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.